Question

Arsenate, AsO43-, a structural analog of phosphate, can act as a substrate for any reaction in which phosphate is a substrate. Arsenate esters hydrolyze instantaneously, so for example, the arsenate analog of ATP becomes ADP instantly. Given this information, which steps of glycolysis would be sensitive to arsenate and what would you predict would be the reason arsenate is a poison?

Answer 1

Phosphoglycerate kainase and pyruvate kainase steps are affected the most.

Step-by-step explanation:

Glycolysis is the process which is the 1st step of any respiration, where glucose is enzymatically broken into three carbon compound the pyruvate by means of enzymes. This process also produces 2 molecules of ATP.

Arsenic is a group 5 element that forms arsenate radical which has similar structure to phosphate. So of arsenate is present in cytoplasm, it competes with phosphate to get bind with ADP and thereby exhibits a competitive inhibition. Thus in the steps of glycolysis where ATPs are produced, arsenate reacts with ADP to produce Adenosine diphosphate arsenate.

But this arsenate is quickly hydrolyzed into ADP and arsenate and no ATP is actually produced. Thus the cell gains no energy and in extreme cases, it eventually dies.