Lesson Plan: Cofactors, Coenzymes, and Prosthetic Groups
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to define what coenzymes, cofactors, and prosthetic groups are and explain how they are crucial for the action of some enzymes.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- recall that enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up the rate of reactions,
- define the terms coenzyme, cofactor, and prosthetic group and distinguish between them,
- explain the need for coenzymes, cofactors, and prosthetic groups in some enzyme-controlled reactions,
- identify cofactors, coenzymes, and prosthetic groups in given examples.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the basic mechanism of enzyme action,
- enzymes as proteins.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- enzyme inhibition.