Some enzymes will only work if there is another non-protein substance bound to them.
Some cofactors are inorganic molecules or ions. They work by helping theenzyme and substrate to bind together. They don't directly participate in the reaction so aren't used up or changed in any way.
A) cofactor
B) substrate
C) enzyme
Chloride ions are inorganic cofactors for the enzyme amylase.
Coenzymes participate in the reaction and are changed by it (they're just like a second substrate, but they aren't called that). They often act as carriers, moving chemical groups between different enzymes. They're continually recycled during this process
A) A is changed to B
B) coenzyme
C) coenzyme
D) b is changed to a
coenzymes
cofactors that are organic molecules
Vitamins are often sources of coenzymes. For example, the coenzyme NAD is derived from vitamin B3.
prosthetic group
a cofactor tightly bound to the enzyme
Zinc ions (Zn2+) are a prosthetic group for carbonic anhydrase (an enzyme in red blood cells, which catalyses the production of carbonic acid from water and carbon dioxide). The zinc ions are a permanent part of the enzvme's active site.
