Question

Arsenate (AsO43-) is structurally and chemically similar to inorganic phosphate (PO43-), and many enzymes that act on phosphate will also use arsenate as a substrate if it is available. However, unlike phosphates, organic compounds of arsenate are kinetically unstable. For example, acyl phosphates (such as 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate) require an enzyme to catalyze phosphate hydrolysis on a biologically relevant timescale, but acyl arsenates hydrolyze almost instantaneously in water without an enzyme.
a) Predict the effect on the net reaction catalyzed by glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase if phosphate were replaced by arsenate.
b) Write a balanced overall equation for the conversion of glucose to pyruvate in the presence of ATP, ADP, NAD+, and arsenate.
c) Arsenate is extremely toxic to most organisms. Based on your answers above, explain why.

Answer 1

Answer:

A) The effect on the net reaction catalyzed by glyceraldehyde is that

The 1-arsen0, 3-phosphoglycerate will decompose without enzymes hence no ATP will be formed in the reaction ( phosphoglycerate Kinase )

B) There will be  no conversion of ADP to ATP from the conversion of glucose to pyruvate hence No balanced overall equation can be derived

C ) Arsenate is very toxic to most organisms and it is used mostly regarded  as poisons during the formation of glycolysis, it forms  1-arsen0, 3-phosphoglycerate which  hinders the formation of ATP because it is unstable and will hydrolyze quickly, this will also lead to the reduction in oxygen in cells thereby leading to the death of cells

Explanation:

A) The effect on the net reaction catalyzed by glyceraldehyde is that

The 1-arsen0, 3-phosphoglycerate will decompose without enzymes hence no ATP will be formed in the reaction ( phosphoglycerate Kinase )

B) There will be  no conversion of ADP to ATP from the conversion of glucose to pyruvate hence No balanced overall equation can be derived

C ) Arsenate is very toxic to most organisms and it is mostly regarded as  poisons during the formation of glycolysis, it forms  1-arsen0, 3-phosphoglycerate which  hinders the formation of ATP because it is unstable and will hydrolyze quickly, this will also lead to the reduction in oxygen in cells thereby leading to the death of cells