Why do proteins have cofactors what role do they serveSoluti

Why do proteins have cofactors (what role do they serve)?

Solution

Proteins have linear or sheet or 3-dimensional structure. These proteins have amino acids which through peptide bonding forms polypeptides. Most of the proteins play a role in enzymatic reactions. Thus all the enzymes are nothing but proteins. Whereas cofactors are non-protein helper molecules which assist enzymes. Metal ions mostly act as cofactors in assisting a biochemical reaction along with enzymes. These cofactors are either prosthetic groups or co-substrates. Prosthetic groups have been tightly/permanently bound to a protein and the co-substrates have been transiently bound to a protein. Some of the reactions have been run active with the help of \"holoenzyme\" and without a cofactor they become inactive \"apoenzyme\". Cofactors which have been derived from vitamins are organic, such as flavins (oxidoreductases), heme (in haemoglobin) etc. Cofactors which have been derived from inorganic molecules, such as Mg2+(Mg-ATPase) ,Ca(Ca-ATPase),Cu+ (cytochrome oxidase) etc.