Question

How are prosthetic groups different from co-factors ?

Answer 1

Prosthetic groups are organic compounds that are tightly bound to the apoenzyme, (an enzyme without cofactor) by covalent or non-covalent forces, e.g., in peroxidase and catalase, which catalyze the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, heme is the prosthetic group and it is a part of the active site of the enzyme.

Co-factor is a small, heat-stable, and non-protein part of a conjugate enzyme. It may be inorganic or organic.

Co-factors when loosely bound to an enzyme are called coenzyme and when tightly bound to an apoenzyme are called a prosthetic group.