Final answer:
Co-factors are essential non-protein compounds that bind to enzymes and enable or enhance their catalytic activity, which is crucial for various metabolic processes within the cell such as the Krebs cycle and the regulation of amino acid production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Function of Co-factors in Cell Metabolism
The function of co-factors in cell metabolism is critical for the enzymatic activities required for cellular function. Co-factors are non-protein chemical compounds that are bound to enzymes and are necessary for their biological activity. Many enzymes require co-factors to either activate them or to help in the catalysis of their reactions. This could be the activation of metabolism, the synthesis of enzymes, and other metabolic activities essential to survival. For example, a well-known co-factor is the acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl CoA), which is the starting molecule of the Krebs cycle, an important step in cellular respiration that produces ATP.
In biochemical functions, co-factors are essential for enzyme complexes like the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in aerobic metabolism. The supplementation of sub-cellular fractions with enzyme co-factors is necessary to initiate various enzymatic reactions. In other words, co-factors are integral to the regulation of metabolism, which includes pathways for amino acid, protein, glycogen, lipid, and nucleic acid production. Without co-factors, the metabolic reactions would reach a standstill as reversible reactions would reach equilibrium and the cell would not function efficiently.