Prosthetic group
Prosthetic Group
A Prosthetic Group (/prɒsˈθɛtɪk ˈɡruːp/; from the Greek: προσθετικός, prosthetikos, "pertaining to an addition") is a non-protein molecule that is tightly bound to a protein and is required for the protein's biological activity.
Definition
In biochemistry, a prosthetic group is a tightly bound cofactor that is required for the biological activity of some proteins. Unlike other cofactors, prosthetic groups are not easily removed from the protein. They are often involved in the function of enzymes, playing a critical role in catalysis by providing a site for chemical reactions to occur.
Types of Prosthetic Groups
Prosthetic groups can be organic or inorganic and can include metal ions, organic compounds, and complex organic-inorganic molecules. Some examples of prosthetic groups include heme, flavin, biotin, and coenzyme A.
Function
The function of a prosthetic group is to assist an enzyme in performing its catalytic function. This is achieved by providing a site for the substrate to bind, facilitating the chemical reaction, and stabilizing the enzyme-substrate complex.
Importance in Biochemistry
Prosthetic groups are essential in biochemistry as they enable proteins to perform functions that they could not do alone. They are particularly important in metabolism, where they play a key role in the catalysis of many metabolic reactions.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prosthetic group
- Wikipedia's article - Prosthetic group
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