Question

esearchers discovered a strain of C. parvum that expresses a functional variation of the lactate dehydrogenase gene. A DNA sequence comparison showed that the variant differs from the normal sequence in the region that codes for the enzyme’s allosteric site. Predict the effect of FX11 treatment on C. parvum cells that express this variant of lactase dehydrogenase. Provide reasoning to support your prediction. Explain how gossypol and FX11 might be used as drugs to treat C. parvum infections in humans without negatively affecting human cells.

Answer 1

Answer:

In case, when an allosteric site undergoes certain modifications it will demonstrate some changes like change in affinity towards the inhibitor, however, how the changes take place is not known exactly because of less knowledge of the FX11 composition. Though it is for sure that the modification will decline the affinity and the FX11 will exhibit less efficacy in preventing the growth of C. parvum.  

An inhibitor targets the allosteric site as the size and the functional groups present within the site matches with that of the inhibitor, and thus affinity is attained. However, when there is a change in structure, the affinity will also get influenced.  

The gossypol and FX11 can be utilized as drugs for human beings as these substances prevent the process of lactic fermentation, and the pathway for lactic fermentation generally is less common in human cells. The parasite C. parvum is found within the digestive tract, and the process of anaerobic respiration usually does not take place in the organs present in the digestive tract. However, in specific cases, only the muscle tissue can go through anaerobic respiration like in the case of performing physical activity. It is also to be noted that the drug can even invade other tissues via blood, therefore, at the time of consuming drugs, there is a need to instruct the patients to prevent any kind of physical activity.