Biology / Unit 3 Bio 0528 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Cofactors and Coenzymes
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The idea
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.
In practice
DNA polymerase requires a zinc cofactor, while vitamin B3 is a precursor to NAD+, a coenzyme central to cellular respiration.
Where people slip
Some vitamins, like B3, are only coenzyme precursors — others, like vitamin C, act as coenzymes themselves.
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