Step 1: Understand key terms.
- Apoprotein: Protein portion alone, without its prosthetic group.
- Holoprotein: Active form of the protein with its prosthetic group bound.
- Hemoprotein: A protein containing heme, not a general category.
- Lipoprotein: A protein bound to lipids, unrelated to the definition here.
Step 2: Match terms with definition.
Since the question asks specifically about a protein without its essential prosthetic group, the correct biochemical term is apoprotein.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Therefore, the protein without its prosthetic group is known as an apoprotein.