Question

Cyanide binds with at least one molecule involved in producing ATP. If a cell is exposed to cyanide, most of the bound cyanide is likely to be localized within the ________.

Answer 1

Answer: mitochondria

Cyanide binds with at least one molecule involved in producing ATP. If a cell is exposed to cyanide, most of the bound cyanide is likely to be localized within the mitochondria

Explanation:

Once cyanide ion (CN-) enters the tissues, it gets into the cell mitochondria and binds tightly with cytochrome oxidase, leading to the cessation of transfer of electrons to oxygen. This then makes the electron carriers accumulate in their reduced state, and the generation of high energy phosphate stops.

Thus, the effect of bound cyanide in mitochondria is oxygen deprivation.