Question

A man is accidentally exposed to a toxin which binds irreversibly and noncompetitively to pyruvate dehydrogenase. a likely consequence of this ingestion is:

Answer 1

Answer;

The likely consequence of this ingestion is A decrease in aerobic respiration and an increase in anaerobic respiration.

Explanation;

-Pyruvate dehydrogenase is the enzyme that mediates pyruvate decarboxylation. This step is the critical link between anaerobic and aerobic respiration. With this link broken, cells would be limited to anaerobic respiration. Thus, there will be a decrease in aerobic respiration.

- Lactic acid is a byproduct of anaerobic respiration. With pyruvate decarboxylation blocked, the cell would likely see an increase in such products.

-Also, since, Acetyl-CoA and NADH are products of pyruvate decarboxylation. Blocking this enzyme would lower these concentrations.