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Enzyme Cofactors
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
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).
• 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.
Enzyme cofactors
 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….
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
(Vitamins)
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
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
Flavin Adenine mononeucleotide and Flavin adenine dinucleotide
(Vitamin B2)
• Involved in redox rxns of C-C bonds
•Metabolism of carbs, fat, protein
Nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide (Vitamin B3)
• As part of NAD+ system, catalyzes redox rxns
of alcohols/carbonyl compounds
Coenzyme A (Panthothenic acid OR Vitamin B5)
• Synthesis of fatty acids (acetate pathway), some peptides, phenylpropanoids,
isoprenoids
• Fat, carbs and protein metabolism
Pyridoxamine, pyridoxal phosphate & pyridoxine
(Vitamin B6)
• Catalyzes transaminations &
decarboxylations of amino acids
• Metabolism  energy
pyridoxine
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
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
Enzyme cofactors

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Enzyme cofactors

  • 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
  • 12. Nicotinamide Adenine dinucleotide (Vitamin B3) • As part of NAD+ system, catalyzes redox rxns of alcohols/carbonyl compounds
  • 13. Coenzyme A (Panthothenic acid OR Vitamin B5) • Synthesis of fatty acids (acetate pathway), some peptides, phenylpropanoids, isoprenoids • Fat, carbs and protein metabolism
  • 14. Pyridoxamine, pyridoxal phosphate & pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) • Catalyzes transaminations & decarboxylations of amino acids • Metabolism  energy pyridoxine
  • 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