Question | Answer |
What are cofactors? | Non-protein substances which bind to enzymes and allow them to work |
What are the 3 types of cofactors? | Inorganic cofactors Coenzymes Prosthetic groups |
What is the role of inorganic cofactors? | Inorganic cofactors help the enzyme and substrate to bind together. They don't directly participate in the reaction so are not used up or changed |
TRUE OR FALSE: Inorganic cofactors remain unchanged in a reaction | TRUE |
Give an example of an inorganic cofactor | Amylase only digests starch to maltose if chloride ions (Cl⁻) are present |
What are coenzymes? |
Organic molecules that bind temporarily to the active site. They often act as carriers, moving chemical groups between different enzymes; they are continually recycled
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TRUE OR FALSE: Coenzymes remain chemically unchanged during a reaction | FALSE Coenzymes are chemically changed and need to be converted to their original state before reuse |
Give an example of coenzymes | Vitamins are sources of coenzymes Therefore, a lack of vitamins means enzymes will not work properly |
How do prosthetic groups work? | They permanently bind to an enzyme by covalent bonds |
Give an example of prosthetic groups | 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 CO₂) |
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