Prosthetic Groups

Prosthetic groups are chemical groups that bind covalently to a biomolecule, typically a protein, to modify its structure and/or function. They are often referred to as "non-native" as they are not found naturally in the organism. Prosthetic groups play an important role in numerous metabolic processes, as they can affect the activity of enzymes, provide protection from oxidation, and help stabilize proteins. They have also been found to act as structural elements in some proteins and even have regulatory roles in certain biological functions. In addition, prosthetic groups are widely used in the biomedical field for the production of therapeutic drugs and for the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of a variety of diseases.