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Cofactors and Coenzymes

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A cofactor is an inorganic ion an enzyme needs to function; a coenzyme is a small organic helper molecule often sourced from a dietary vitamin.

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DNA polymerase requires a zinc cofactor, while vitamin B3 is a precursor to NAD+, a coenzyme central to cellular respiration.

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Some vitamins, like B3, are only coenzyme precursors — others, like vitamin C, act as coenzymes themselves.