cofactor

(noun)

An inorganic molecule that is necessary for an enzyme to function.

Related Terms

Examples of cofactor in the following topics:

  • Control of Metabolism Through Enzyme Regulation

    • Many enzymes only work if bound to non-protein helper molecules called cofactors and coenzymes.
    • Cofactors are inorganic ions such as iron (Fe2+) and magnesium (Mg2+).
    • Pyruvate dehydrogenase is a complex of several enzymes that requires one cofactor and five different organic coenzymes to catalyze its chemical reaction.
    • The availability of various cofactors and coenzymes regulates enzyme function.

  • Mitochondria

    • One of these functions is to generate clusters of iron and sulfur that are important cofactors of many enzymes.

  • Covalent Bonds and Other Bonds and Interactions

    • Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is the most-commonly used cofactor in all of biology.
    • Adenosine Triphosphate, or ATP, is the most commonly used cofactor in nature.

  • DNA Repair

    • DNA ligases catalyse the crucial step of joining breaks in duplex DNA during DNA repair, replication and recombination, and require either Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) as a cofactor.

  • Energy and Nutrient Requirements for Prokaryotes

    • Some prokaryotes require other elements (such as boron (B), chromium (Cr), and manganese (Mn)) primarily as enzyme cofactors.