cofactor

(noun)

A substance, especially a coenzyme or a metal, that must be present for an enzyme to function.

Related Terms

Examples of cofactor in the following topics:

  • Biomolecules

    • Metalloprotein is a generic term for a protein that contains a metal ion cofactor.
    • In addition to donor groups that are provided by amino acid residues, a large number of organic cofactors function as ligands.

  • Enzyme Catalysis

    • Covalent catalysis: covalent bonding to side chains or cofactors can lower the energy of the transition state.

  • Chelating Agents

    • Virtually all metalloenzymes feature metals that are chelated, usually to peptides or cofactors and prosthetic groups.

  • Manganese

    • The classes of enzymes that have manganese cofactors are very broad.

  • Titanium, Chromium, and Manganese

    • In biology, manganese(II) ions function as cofactors for a large variety of enzymes with many functions.