Many enzymes require non-protein cofactors to help catalyze reactions. There are two main types of enzymes: simple protein enzymes and conjugated enzymes, which contain both a protein and non-protein cofactor. The cofactor, combined with the protein apoenzyme, form the active holoenzyme. Cofactors can be inorganic ions or organic coenzymes and prosthetic groups. Coenzymes often function as carriers in redox or group transfer reactions and many are vitamin derivatives, acting as precursors. Common coenzymes include coenzyme A, NAD+, FAD, pyridoxal phosphate, and tetrahydrofolate. Metal ions also play important roles in many enzyme reactions by
2. Many enzymes need non-protein parts called
cofactors that help in catalysis
Two Types of Enzymes
1. Simple Protein Enzymes = Composed of a
polypeptide chain (protein only
2. Conjugated Enzymes = Protein + Non-
proteinous part
----The non-proteinous part of a conjugated enzyme
is called a cofactor while the proteinous part of an
enzyme is referred to as apoenzyme……
Cofactor + apoenzyme = Holoenzyme
3. Only the combination of an apoenzyme with its
cofactor (i.e., a holoenzyme) is operative (a
holoenzyme also refers to the assembled form of a
multiple subunit protein).
4. • The cofactors can be inorganic ions or coenzymes
(complex organic or metallo-organic molecules).
• Some cofactors bind to the enzyme protein very tightly
(non-covalently or covalently), they are thus called
prosthetic groups, while loosely attached non-
proteineous components are called as Coenzymes
• Coenzymes usually function as transient carriers of
specific function groups. Coenzymes can act as Co-
Substrate….
• Vitamins (organic nutrients required in small amount
in the diet) have been found to often act as precursors
of coenzymes.
6. Prosthetic group is present in enzymes and non-
enzyme proteins.
Prosthetic group is always tightly attached to the
proteinous part of an enzyme,
Prosthetic group mainly participate in Redox
reactions
Example is heme, a prosthetic group present in
cytochrome oxidase….
7. Coenzymes are of two types
1. Group transferring coenzymes….they are involved in transferring group
from one substrate to another substrate
(a) Coenzyme-A is involved in the transfer of acyl group from one substrate to
another substrate
(b) Biotin is involved is in transfer of –COO
(c) Pyridoxal phosphate is involved in transfer of amino group
2. Electron transferring coenzymes …they are involved in redox reactions
(a) NAD and NADH+H
(b) FAD and FADH2
Most of the coenzymes are Vitamin B derivatives
Coenzymes can act as co-substrates
9. Some common
coenzymes
• Acyl groups and others
– Coenzyme A
– Lipoic acid
– Thiamine pyrophosphate
– Pyridoxal phosphate
– 5’-Deoxyadenosyl-
cobalamin
Transfers
Acyl groups
Acyl groups
Aldehydes
Amino groups
Alkyl groups
10. Thiamine (Thiamine pyrophosphate…..Vitamin B1)
• Catalyzes decarboxylation of keto acids, a feature of primary
metabolism
• e.g. pyruvic acid → acetaldehyde in glycolysis
• pyruvic acid → acetyl-CoA
usually found in
phosphate form
11. Flavin Adenine mononeucleotide and Flavin adenine dinucleotide
(Vitamin B2)
• Involved in redox rxns of C-C bonds
•Metabolism of carbs, fat, protein
13. Coenzyme A (Panthothenic acid OR Vitamin B5)
• Synthesis of fatty acids (acetate pathway), some peptides, phenylpropanoids,
isoprenoids
• Fat, carbs and protein metabolism
15. Tetrahydrofolate (Vitamin B9)
• Role: Tetrahydrofolate functions in one-C metabolism as a
carrier of methyl, methylene or formyl groups
• Involved in amino acid and nucleotide metabolism, red blood
cell formation
16. Metal ions perform three distinct functions during enzyme
catalysis
1. Mediating Oxidation-reduction reactions through reversible
changes in the metal ion oxidation state
2. Binds to substrate and properly orient them for reactions
3. Electrostatically stabilizes or shield negative charges
------------
---1/3 of all known enzymes require metal ions for their catalytic
activities
1. Metalloenzymes…metal ion is tightly bound to the enzyme
2. Metal activated enzymes….metal ion is loosely attached to the
enzyme
Two types of Enzymes on the basis of metal ions