Coenzymes and Vitamins
Coenzymes and Vitamins
Coenzymes and Vitamins
There are other groups that contribute to the reactivity of enzymes beside amino acid
residues.
These groups are called cofactors - chemicals required by apoenzymes (inactive) to become
holoenzymes (active).
2) vitamin-derived coenzymes
Vitamins are required for coenzyme synthesis and must be supplied in the
diet
Lack of particular vitamins causes disease
There are two catagories of vitamins:
1) water-soluble - B vitamins and vit. C
required daily in diet
excess excreted in urine
2) lipid-soluble - vitamins A, D, E, K
Intake must be limited
Stored in fat
B vitamins and their coenzymes
Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
Coenzymes are flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD).
Riboflavin found in milk, whole grains, liver.
The coenzymes serve as prosthetic groups involved in 1e - or 2e- transfers.
Vitamin B1 (thiamine)
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Vitamin B6 family
PLP found in enzymes that catalyze reactions involving amino acids, e.g. isomerizations,
decarboxylations, R-group removal or replacements.
Most frequent reaction is a transamination, where the a-amino group of a.a. is transferred
to carbonyl group of a-keto acid --> new a.a. made or is excreted.
PLP binds covalently with Lys residue in active site --> keeps PLP from running away.
Biotin
Prosthetic coenzyme is called biocytin - covalently linked to Lys residue in active site.
Used by enzymes that transfer 1-C units as methyl groups (CH 3-).
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Pantothenic Acid
Coenzyme form is phosphopantethine - added to serine residue of protein --> acyl carrier
protein (ACP) --> important in fatty acid synthesis.
It is a prosthetic coenzyme.
Deficiency in B12 results in pernicious anemia (decreased production of blood cells from
bone marrow).
LIPID VITAMINS
Vitamin A or retinol
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1) retinol and 2) retinoic acid - binds to intracellular protein receptors -->
regulates gene expression
2) retinal - prosthetic group of rhodopsin
Vitamin D
Vitamin E or -tocopherol
Vitamin K or phylloquinone
Found in plants.
Ubiquinone or coenzyme Q
Cytochromes
Transfers e-.
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