Co-factor - Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A co-factor (or cofactor) is a chemical compound which is not a protein, but is attached to a protein. The compound is needed for the protein's biological activity. In most cases, the protein will be an enzyme, and the cofactor will help the enzyme work. If so, the cofactors are also called coenzymes.[1] [2]

Cofactors which are complex organic molecules are often called coenzymes. If connected by a covalent bond they are a prosthetic group. But if they are just temporarily connected then the cofactor is a cosubstrate.

Some enzymes need several cofactors. Organic cofactors are often vitamins, or made from vitamins. Metallic ions are often cofactors, but many cofactors have both inorganic and organic parts.

Ion Examples of enzymes containing this ion
Cupric Cytochrome oxidase
Ferrous or Ferric Catalase
Cytochrome (via Heme)
Nitrogenase
Hydrogenase
Magnesium Glucose 6-phosphatase
Hexokinase
DNA polymerase
Manganese Arginase
Molybdenum Nitrate reductase
Nitrogenase
Nickel Urease
Zinc Alcohol dehydrogenase
Carbonic anhydrase
DNA polymerase
A simple [Fe2S2] cluster containing two iron atoms and two sulfur atoms, coordinated by four protein cysteine residues

References

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  1. Abercrombie M. et al 1990. The Penguin dictionary of biology. London: Penguin, p126.
  2. "coenzymes and cofactors". academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu. Retrieved 2018-01-15.