detailed explanation please At high altitudes, the oxygen level in air is low. C
ID: 256822 • Letter: D
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detailed explanation please
At high altitudes, the oxygen level in air is low. Climbers of very tall mountains risk altitude sickness, which is characterized by shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness and confusion. The early symptoms of cyanide poisoning are the same as those for altitude sickness. Cyanide binds tightly to Cytochrome c oxidase, a protein complex that is the last component of mitochondrial electron transfer chains. Cytochrome c oxidase with bound cyanide can no longer transfer electrons. Explain why cyanide poisoning starts with the same symptoms as altitude sickness.Explanation / Answer
In aerobic respiration after glycolysis and TCA cycle a large amount of NADH and FADH2 is produced. These reduced coenzymes gets oxidised by loosing electrons and releases energy which produces the required ATP for our daily function. Now the electrons lost by these coenzymes passes through a number of carrears and gets received by oxygen which gets reduced to form H2O.
Now in higher altitude when there is less oxygen in the air , there is no oxygen left at the end of the carrers to receive the electrons lost by the coenzymes. This stops the coenzymes to get oxidised and release energy in the form of ATP. With shortage of energy the weakness, dizziness and shortness of breath(for want of more oxygen) takes place.
In case of cyanide poisoning, cyanide binds to the last carrer of the electron transfer( cytochrome c oxydase) and thus stops the electrons to transfer and bind to oxygen and reduce it to H2O. Because of this also the electron tramsfer stops and the coenzymes no longer gets oxidised to form energy. Our body feels weak and dizzy and acts like it acts when there is shortage of oxygen( shortness of breath). Because in this case even if there is ample amount of oxygen present in the environment, the body is not being able to utilize it.
For the above reasons mountain sickness and cyanide poisoning produces similar symptoms.
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