Metabolic Poisons

Question 1

Name as many metabolic poisons as you can!

Answer 1

Cyanide
Azide
Carbon monoxide
Malonate
Oligomycin
Rotanone
Dinitrophenol

Question 2

What is a metabolic poison?

Answer 2

Any substance that disrupts the process of ATP production

Question 3

What is the most common cause of Metabolic failure?

Answer 3

Hypoxia - Lack of Oxygen to accept electrons prevent oxidative phosphorylation from occuring

Question 4

Which poisons inhibit the cytochrome oxidase complex?

Answer 4

Cyanide
Azide
Carbon Monoxide

Question 5

How is the cytochrome oxidase complex inhibited?

Answer 5

CN- N3- or CO bind to Fe3+ in the haem group of cytochrome oxidase, blocking the ETC

Question 6

Describe the effect of Malonate

Answer 6

Malonate is a competitive inhibitor of succinate dehydrogenase.
Slows the flow of electrons to ubiquinone and inhibits the oxidation of Succinate to Fumarate

Question 7

What is oligomycin?

Answer 7

Antibiotic produced by Streptomyces

Question 8

Describe the effect of Oligomycin

Answer 8

Binds to ATP synthase stalk, blocking flow of Protons. This compromises the ability of the ETC to pump protons.