Cyanide is a poison that blocks the passage of electrons along the electron tran
ID: 5881 • Letter: C
Question
Cyanide is a poison that blocks the passage of electrons along the electron transport chain. Which of the following is a metabolic effect of this poison?a. The pH of the intermembrane space is much lower than normal
b. Electrons are passed directly to oxygen, causing cells to explode.
c. Alcohol would build up in the cells
d. NADH supplies would be exhausted, and ATP synthesis would cease.
e. No proton gradient would be produced, and ATP synthesis would cease.
Explanation / Answer
Cyanide is a poison that blocks the passage of electrons along the electron transport chain. Which of the following is a metabolic effect of this poison? a. The pH of the intermembrane space is much lower than normal b. Electrons are passed directly to oxygen, causing cells to explode. c. Alcohol would build up in the cells d. NADH supplies would be exhausted, and ATP synthesis would cease. e. No proton gradient would be produced, and ATP synthesis would cease. NADH is oxidized: NADH-->NAD+ + H+ +2e- At this point, the two electrons are at a higher energy state. They undergo a series of reactions which release energy as the fall to lower energy levels. It is this energy that provides the power to pump H+ from the matrix to the outer membrane (which forms a gradient). The H+ gradient ultimately churns the ATPsynthase that's responsible for the production of ATP. If you block the passage of electrons, you block the production of a H+ gradient. Without this gradient, the ATPsynthase doesn't turn and no ATP is produced. So E seems like the most reasonable answer.
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