Read the following statements carefully: (A) Coenzymes are organic compounds that are tightly bound to the apoenzyme. (B) The essential chemical components of many coenzymes are vitamins. (C) Zinc is a cofactor for the proteolytic enzyme carboxypeptidase. (D) The non-protein constituents bound to the enzyme to make it catalytically active are called apoenzymes. How many of the above statements are correct?

Step-by-step solution

Statement (A) is incorrect because coenzymes are organic compounds whose association with the apoenzyme is only transient, usually occurring during the course of catalysis. Prosthetic groups are the ones that are tightly bound. Statement (B) is correct as the essential chemical components of many coenzymes are vitamins (e.g., NAD and NADP contain the vitamin niacin). Statement (C) is correct as zinc acts as a cofactor for the proteolytic enzyme carboxypeptidase. Statement (D) is incorrect because the non-protein co