cofactor
Catalyst's essential sidekick
A cofactor is a substance that works alongside an enzyme to help it function properly—without the cofactor, the enzyme can't do its job.
In biochemistry, cofactors include metal ions and organic molecules called coenzymes.
The term also has a mathematical meaning: in matrix algebra, a cofactor is a specific value calculated from a matrix element, used in finding determinants and inverses.
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor in several metabolic reactions.
Enzyme's nonprotein helper molecule
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- bindingLegally or morally required
- catalysisAccelerating reactions without consumption
regulation · inhibitor · inducer · activation · kinetics · affinity · turnover · specificity
Essential organic nutrient
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- micronutrientEssential substance, small doses
- dietaryOf food consumption
- ironElement twenty-six
zinc · magnesium · copper · manganese · selenium · molybdenum · chromium · thiamine
Evoking a response
- enhancementIncrease in quality
- potentiationIncreased effect through interaction
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
- upregulationIncreased cellular expression
facilitation · augmentation · boosting · synergy · modulation
Matrix-derived scalar quantity
- minorScale with lowered third
- algebraMath using symbols
- linearArranged in straight succession
- eigenvalueScalar satisfying determinant equation
coenzyme
Enzyme's nonprotein helper molecule
- active siteEnzyme region binding substrates
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- bindingLegally or morally required
catalysis · regulation · inhibitor · inducer · activation · kinetics · affinity · turnover · specificity · zymogen
vitamin
Essential organic nutrient
- mineralNaturally formed crystalline solid
- micronutrientEssential substance, small doses
- dietaryOf food consumption
iron · zinc · magnesium · copper · manganese · selenium · molybdenum · chromium · thiamine · riboflavin
stimulation
Evoking a response
- enhancementIncrease in quality
- potentiationIncreased effect through interaction
- amplificationIncrease in intensity
upregulation · facilitation · augmentation · boosting · synergy · modulation
determinant
Matrix-derived scalar quantity
- causescause, root cause, primary cause, underlying cause, origin
- biochemistryenzymes, proteins, biochemistry, protein, enzyme
- Enzymologysubstrate, active site, catalysis, Michaelis-Menten, turnover number
- linear algebramatrix, linear equation, vectors, linear function, matrices
- catalystsenzyme, catalyst, active site, platinum, coenzyme
- Elliptic Curvesdiscriminant, twist
cofactorinhibitor
Agent that slows reactions
antagonist · blocker · suppressor · deactivator · poison