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Related Concept Videos

Cofactors and Coenzymes01:27

Cofactors and Coenzymes

Enzymes require additional components for proper function. There are two such classes of molecules: cofactors and coenzymes. Cofactors are metallic ions and coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules. Both of these types of helper molecule can be tightly bound to the enzyme or bound only when the substrate binds.
Cofactors and Coenzymes01:24

Cofactors and Coenzymes

Enzymes are proteins made of amino acids. The functional group of each constituent amino acid catalyzes a wide variety of chemical reactions via ionic interactions or acid-base reactions. However, amino acids cannot catalyze oxidation-reduction and group transfer reactions and need to be aided by non-protein components called cofactors. Cofactors are also referred to as the chemical teeth of an enzyme.
Cofactors can be metallic ions or organic molecules called coenzymes. These types of helper...
Cofactors and Coenzymes01:27

Cofactors and Coenzymes

Enzymes require additional components for proper function. There are two such classes of molecules: cofactors and coenzymes. Cofactors are metallic ions and coenzymes are non-protein organic molecules. Both of these types of helper molecule can be tightly bound to the enzyme or bound only when the substrate binds.
Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂01:29

Role of Reduced Coenzymes NADH and FADH₂

The energy released from the breakdown of the chemical bonds within nutrients can be stored either through the reduction of electron carriers or in the bonds of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In living systems, a small class of compounds functions as mobile electron carriers, molecules that bind to and shuttle high-energy electrons between compounds in pathways. The principal electron carriers that will be considered originate from the B vitamin group and are derivatives of nucleotides; they are...
Sulfur Assimilation01:20

Sulfur Assimilation

Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...

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Updated: May 27, 2026

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells
09:43

Measurement of Heme Synthesis Levels in Mammalian Cells

Published on: July 9, 2015

Vitamin B6: beyond coenzyme functions.

Georg T Wondrak1, Elaine L Jacobson

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA, wondrak@pharmacy.arizona.edu.

Sub-Cellular Biochemistry
|November 26, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vitamin B6 vitamers act as antioxidants, metal chelators, and carbonyl scavengers, counteracting damaging reactive intermediates implicated in diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.

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Last Updated: May 27, 2026

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Quantification of Coenzyme A in Cells and Tissues
08:51

Quantification of Coenzyme A in Cells and Tissues

Published on: September 27, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Pathology
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Endogenous reactive intermediates, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive carbonyl species (RCS), contribute to tissue damage in various human pathologies.
  • These reactive species are implicated in the initiation and progression of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders.
  • The established role of vitamin B6 vitamers as enzyme cofactors is well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present the structural basis for vitamin B6 vitamers' activity as antioxidants, metal chelators, carbonyl scavengers, and photosensitizers.
  • To discuss the physiological relevance of these newly identified roles of vitamin B6.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and analysis of existing evidence on vitamin B6 structure and function.
  • Examination of the chemical properties of B6 vitamers in relation to reactive intermediates.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin B6 vitamers possess structural features enabling them to neutralize harmful endogenous reactive intermediates.
  • Evidence suggests B6 vitamers function as potent antioxidants, metal chelators, carbonyl scavengers, and photosensitizers.
  • These activities represent a significant departure from their known enzymatic cofactor roles.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin B6 vitamers exhibit multifaceted protective roles beyond their enzymatic functions.
  • These properties highlight the potential of B6 vitamers in combating oxidative stress and related pathologies.
  • Further research into the physiological significance of these activities is warranted.