Cofactorindependent
Cofactorindependent refers to enzymes or catalytic processes that do not require non-protein cofactors for activity. This contrasts with cofactor-dependent enzymes that rely on cofactors such as metal ions or organic molecules like NAD+, FAD, heme, biotin, or coenzyme A to enable catalysis or substrate binding. In cofatorindependent catalysis, all chemical transformation relies on the protein’s active-site architecture and the intrinsic chemistry of amino acid side chains.
Mechanisms typically involve general acid-base catalysis, formation of covalent intermediates with substrate, or precise positioning of
A canonical example is class I fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, which catalyzes aldol cleavage via a lysine-mediated Schiff
In research and biotechnology, cofatorindependent enzymes are of interest because they may simplify reaction design and