Coenzyme vs. Cofactor

Coenzymenoun

(biochemistry) Any small molecule that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme.

Coenzyme

a molecule that is essential for the activity of some enzymes; it may exist free in solution within a living organism, but functions by binding to an enzyme to assist in catalyzing a reaction. The molecule itself may be temporarily changed during the reaction, but is ultimately restored to its original form. Many vitamins function as coenzymes.

Coenzymenoun

a small molecule (not a protein but sometimes a vitamin) essential for the activity of some enzymes

Cofactornoun

A contributing factor.

Cofactornoun

(biochemistry) A substance, especially a coenzyme or a metal, that must be present for an enzyme to function.

Cofactornoun

(biochemistry) A molecule that binds to and regulates the activity of a protein.

Cofactornoun

(mathematics) The result of a number being divided by one of its factors.

Cofactornoun

The signed determinant of the submatrix produced by removing the row and column containing a specified element; primarily used in the recursive definition and calculation of the determinant of a matrix.

Cofactornoun

a substance (as a coenzyme) that must join with another to produce a given result