Cofactors and enzyme inhibition

• What is a cofactor? Example


  Inorganic molecule or ion, that temporarily binds to an enzyme, to help the enzyme and substrate bind together.

  E.g chloride ion is a cofactor for amylase enzyme.
• what is a coenzyme? example


  organic cofactor that act as carriers, moving chemical groups between enzymes.

  e.g vitamins are a source of coenzymes
• what is a prosthetic group? example


  permanent cofactors that are bound to enzymes

  e.g zinc ions are a prosthetic group for carbonic anhydrase
• What is competitive inhibition?


  Similar shape to substrate, they compete to bind to substrate.

  They block the active site to prevent the substrate from binding. So no reaction can take place.
• what is a non-competitive inhibitor?


  they bind on the enzymes allosteric site, causing the active site to change shape so substrate cannot bind.
• • how can the inhibitors be reversible?

  if they have a weak hydrogen or ionic bonds the inhibitor can be removed
• how can the inhibitor be irreversible?

  strong covalent bonds makes them difficult to be removed