question_answer 34)

  How are prosthetic groups different from co-factors?

Answer:

                Prosthetic groups are organic compounds that are tightly bound to the apoenzyme, (anenzyme without cofaetor) by covalent or non-covalent forces, e.g., in peroxidase andcatalase, which catalyze the breakdown of. hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, haemeis the prosthetic group and it is a part of the active site of the enzyme. Co-factor is small, heat stable and non-protein part of conjugate enzyme. It may beinorganic or organic in nature. Co-factors when loosely bound to a enzyme is called coenzyme and when tightly bound to apoenzyme is called prosthetic group.