How Do Cofactors & Coenzymes Affect Enzyme Activity?
Every living organism is made up of cells. Some organisms are just a single cell, while others -- such as an African elephant -- are made up of billions of cells. But these cells cannot do their jobs alone. For the organism to digest its food, breathe and reproduce, it must have the right building blocks. Enzymes, aided by cofactors and coenzymes, are an important part in the building blocks of life.
Basic Building Blocks of Life
Every organism needs nutrients. Throughout all life forms, both plant and animal, there are about 20 building blocks of life. Humans are essentially made up of four types of molecules: carbohydrates, fats, proteins and nucleic acid. These molecules are taken in as food. For your body to break down foods into a usable form for cells, chemical reactions have to take place. Enzymes are a particular type of protein, which assists in these chemical reactions.
Enzyme Definition and Function
Enzymes are essentially protein catalysts for these chemical reactions. Enzymes lower the energy barrier to the chemical reactions so they can act upon the substrates and cause a reaction. Each enzyme is specific to each substrate. In other words, the enzymes that help break down fatty foods are not useful in breaking down carbohydrates. The body must have each necessary enzyme in order to produce the correct chemical reactions for each specific bodily function.
Cofactors and Enzyme Activity
Cofactors are inorganic substrates. Some cofactors are required to produce a chemical reaction between the enzyme and the substrate, while others merely increase the rate of catalysis. Cofactors are sometimes attach to the enzyme, much like a prosthetic limb. Others are loosely bound to the enzyme.
Coenzymes and Enzyme Activity
Unlike the inorganic cofactors, coenzymes are organic molecules. Certain enzymes need coenzymes to bind to the substrate and cause a reaction. Since the coenzymes are changed by the chemical reaction, these are considered to be secondary substrates of the reaction. Though enzymes are specific to the substrate, coenzymes are not specific to the enzymes they assist. Some chemical reactions within the cells of the body do require a cofactor or a coenzyme to work properly, while others do not. The body is unable to manufacture these products, so the way to get the vitamins necessary to produce cofactors and coenzymes is to eat a healthy, balanced diet full of all the vitamins necessary for bodily functions.
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