cofactor

(kō'făk'tər)

1. One of two or more contributing factors.
2. A substance, such as a metallic ion or coenzyme, that must be associated with an enzyme for the enzyme to function.

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A nonprotein component essential for the normal catalytic activity of an enzyme. Cofactors may be organic molecules (coenzymes) or inorganic ions. They may activate the enzyme by altering its shape or they may actually participate in the chemical reaction.

For more information on cofactor, visit Britannica.com.

A non-protein substance that is essential for the efficient functioning of an enzyme, binding with it during a reaction. Tightly bound cofactors are called prosthetic groups. ATP and NAD are cofactors.

1. any accessory, nonprotein substance, commonly of low molecular mass, that is necessary for the activity of an enzyme. Metal-ion cofactors have been called activators; organic cofactors that are easily removable from the enzyme (e.g. by dialysis) may be called coenzymes, but if they are tightly bound they are often termed prosthetic groups. See also apoenzyme, holoenzyme.
2. any amino acid that must be present in the medium to allow certain phages to be adsorbed by host bacteria.

An element or principle, e.g. a coenzyme, with which another must unite in order to function.

• ristocetin c. — see ristocetin cofactor.

• Physiology - cofactor: coenzyme

Look up cofactor in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Cofactor may refer to any of the following:

• Cofactor (linear algebra), the signed minor of a matrix
• Minor (linear algebra), an alternative name for the determinant of a smaller matrix than that which it describes
• Cofactor (biochemistry), a substance that needs to be present in addition to an enzyme for a certain reaction to be catalysed
• Shannon expansion or Shannon cofactor, a derived function of another function, a notion useful in computer science and mathematics

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