Campbell Biology, Books a la Carte Plus Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (11th Edition)
Campbell Biology, Books a la Carte Plus Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN: 9780134454665
Author: Lisa A. Urry, Michael L. Cain, Steven A. Wasserman, Peter V. Minorsky, Jane B. Reece
Publisher: PEARSON
bartleby

Concept explainers

Question
Chapter 41, Problem 41.1CR
Summary Introduction

To determine: The reason how an enzyme cofactor needed for an essential process is an essential nutrient for only some animals.

Introduction: A coenzyme is an organic non-protein compound that binds with an enzyme to catalyze a reaction. Many coenzymes, though not all, are vitamins or derived from vitamins. Thus, the enzyme cofactors play an important role in performing normal physiological processes in their system. Most of the animals can synthesize these enzyme cofactors in their own body, but some require their supply through diet.

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark

Explanation of Solution

Essential nutrients are the nutrients that cannot be synthesized by the body but required to carry out the normal physiological functions and must be provided through diet. There are six essential nutrients: carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water. Coenzymes primarily function as helper molecules in enzyme-catalyzed reactions. Most of the coenzymes are the vitamins (Vitamins A, C, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, H, and K) or vitamin derivatives (NADH, FADH, Quinine, and CoA).

Many animals can produce most of the vitamins they need such as vitamin B3, vitamin C, and vitamin D on their own. But some of the animals cannot synthesize some vitamins or vitamin-derived cofactors, which are thus essential nutrients for them, and they need to intake these in their diet.

  • For example, anthropoid primates (humans, monkeys, and apes), guinea pigs, particular Indian fruit-eating bat, and some birds do not possess the ability to synthesize Vitamin C because of a defective mutation in the gene controlling the synthesis of L-gulonolactone oxidase (GLO gene) that blocks the conversion of glucose to ascorbic acid.
  • The common ancestor of birds and mammals today live in an environment with abundance of green plants containing thiamine. Hence, they lost the gene responsible for the production of Vitamin B1 (thiamine) in their own body. Thus, Vitamin B1 became an essential nutrient for them.
Conclusion

The cofactors are needed as an essential nutrient in some animals that lack the ability to produce enzyme cofactors in their own body.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!
Students have asked these similar questions
(a) amylase, (b) invertase, (c) endopeptidase Where would you find the above enzymes in the average mammal?
How are food products altered for those who do not make adequate amounts of this enzyme
Rubisco is an inefficient enzyme. Explain why you think Rubisco hasn’t evolved to becomemore efficient

Chapter 41 Solutions

Campbell Biology, Books a la Carte Plus Mastering Biology with Pearson eText -- Access Card Package (11th Edition)

Knowledge Booster
Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
    • SEE MORE QUESTIONS
    Recommended textbooks for you
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9780134580999
    Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
    Publisher:PEARSON
    Biology 2e
    Biology
    ISBN:9781947172517
    Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
    Publisher:OpenStax
    Anatomy & Physiology
    Biology
    ISBN:9781259398629
    Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
    Publisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
  • Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9780815344322
    Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
    Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
    Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
    Biology
    ISBN:9781260159363
    Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
    Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9781260231700
    Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
    Publisher:McGraw Hill Education
  • Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9780134580999
    Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
    Publisher:PEARSON
    Biology 2e
    Biology
    ISBN:9781947172517
    Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
    Publisher:OpenStax
    Anatomy & Physiology
    Biology
    ISBN:9781259398629
    Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
    Publisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
    Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9780815344322
    Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
    Publisher:W. W. Norton & Company
    Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
    Biology
    ISBN:9781260159363
    Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
    Publisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
    Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
    Biology
    ISBN:9781260231700
    Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
    Publisher:McGraw Hill Education