Cofactors

Question 1

Which enzyme contains a zinc ion permanently bound to it?

Answer 1

Carbonic anhydrase

Question 2

What does the enzyme carbonic anhydrase do?

Answer 2

Converts carbon dioxide and water into carbonic acid. Which then breaks down into protons and hydrogen-carbonate ions.

Question 3

What are co-substrates?

Answer 3

Cofactors which together with the substrate form the correct shape to bind to the enzyme.

Question 4

True or false? Some cofactors change the charge distribution of a substrate molecule.

Answer 4

True. This is to make the temporary bonds in the substrate complex easier to form.

Question 5

What deficiency disease occurs if the vitamin Nicotinamide (B3), which is derived from the coenzyme NAD and NADP, levels are low.

Answer 5

Pellagra (diarrhoea, dermatitis and dementia)

Question 6

What is slightly different about coenzymes?

Answer 6

They are chemically changed during the reaction so need to be recycled to be useful again.