Question

What is a similarity and difference between cofactors and coenzymes?

Answer 1

Similarity between cofactors and coenzymes:

A coenzyme is a type of cofactor. Cofactors serve the same purpose as coenzymes, as they regulate, control, and adjust how fast these chemical reactions would respond and take effect in our body.

Difference between cofactors and coenzymes:

Cofactor

It is a non-protein chemical compounds bound tightly or loosely to an enzyme (protein).

These are inorganic substances.

It assists in biological transformations.

They are chemical compounds.

It is tightly bound to an enzyme.

They act on catalyst to increase the speed of the reaction.

Metal Ions like Zn++, K+ and Mg++, etc.

Coenzyme

It is small, organic, non-protein molecules, which carry chemical groups between enzymes.

These are organic substances.

It aids or helps the function of an enzyme.

They are chemical molecules.

It is loosely bound to an enzyme.

They act as carries to the enzymes.

Vitamins, Biotin, Coenzyme A, etc