Coenzyme (Noun)
Meaning
A small molecule (not a protein but sometimes a vitamin) essential for the activity of some enzymes.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- Coenzyme Q is necessary for the production of ATP, a crucial molecule in the body that supplies energy.
- Many vitamins and related compounds have coenzymes as the functional part, serving in one of several crucial metabolic processes.
- This is usually true when one compound must become more highly energized by reduction in a later biochemical step - these processes always use the highly specific carriers we refer to as coenzymes.
- All such transfers can also use reduced and oxidized forms of specific low-molecular weight nonprotein molecules that specialize in assisting a huge class of electron and H atom moving coenzymes called cofactors.
- The nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) coenzyme is one of many coenzymes.