What is a cofactor?
Posted July 22, 2020
Answer
A cofactor is a non-protein molecule that is required by an enzyme to execute its catalytic activity, which is considered a “helper molecule” that assists in biochemical transformations. Cofactors can be divided into two main types: inorganic cofactors such as metal ions and iron-sulfur clusters, and organic cofactors, also known as coenzymes, such as flavin and heme.
Additional resources
Amplite™ Fluorimetric Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Assay Kit
Amplite™ Fluorimetric Coenzyme A Quantitation Kit *Green Fluorescence*
Berg, J. M., Tymoczko, J. L., & Stryer, L. (2008). Biochemistry (Loose-Leaf). Macmillan.