Coenzyme

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  coenzyme \co*en"zyme\ (k[-o]*[e^]n"z[imac]m), (Biochem.)
     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.
     [PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

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