Cofactor
Also known as: coenzyme · metal cofactor · prosthetic group
A non-protein helper — a metal ion or small molecule — that an enzyme or peptide needs to be active.
A cofactor is a non-protein component required for a protein’s activity. It may be a metal ion (such as copper, zinc or magnesium) or an organic molecule (a coenzyme, such as NAD+).
The concept is directly relevant to peptides: in a copper peptide such as GHK-Cu the copper ion acts as an integral cofactor, and coenzymes like NAD+ are cofactors central to cellular energy.
RELATED TERMS
Copper Peptide
A peptide complexed with a copper ion; the best-known is GHK-Cu, studied for skin remodelling and hair support.
GHK-Cu
A copper-binding tripeptide (Gly-His-Lys) studied for collagen synthesis, skin remodelling and hair-follicle support.
NAD+
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide — a coenzyme central to mitochondrial energy and sirtuin activity, declining with age.
Enzyme
A protein catalyst that speeds up a specific biochemical reaction — including the enzymes that build and break peptides.
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