alleryStart learning →Cofactors and coenzymes differ in what way?
ACofactors are inorganic ions, coenzymes are organic
BCofactors are organic, coenzymes are inorganic ions
CCofactors bind substrates, coenzymes bind products
DCofactors are enzymes, coenzymes are their substrates
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Cofactors are inorganic ions, coenzymes are organic
1. Many enzymes do not work optimally, or even at all, unless bound to non-protein helper molecules.
2. Cofactors are inorganic ions, such as iron and magnesium ions.
3. Coenzymes are organic helper molecules, with a basic atomic structure made up of carbon and hydrogen.
4. Reversing the two definitions is the trap in the second option, since organic means carbon based.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 6 "Metabolism", section 6.5 Enzymes_
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