Question

How does arsenic inhibit cellular respiration?

Answer 1

Arsenic assisted inhibition in cellular respiration:

1. Arsenic is a solid brittle metalloid (non-metal).
2. Arsenic has potential environmental risk factors.
3. It inhibits different mitochondrial enzymes.
4. It inhibits oxidative phosphorylation (synthesizes ATP for energy) for process in the mitochondria of cells.
5. Hence, it leads to difficulties in cellular respiration.
6. Arsenic forms toxic products upon interaction with sulfhydryl groups of proteins and enzymes.
7. They also substitute the phosphorus groups with various phosphorous groups in different biochemical reactions.
8. Arsenic can also change the conformation of protein structure by associating with the closely associated cysteines.
9. It also attacks the thiol groups and disulfide bonds in proteins.
10. Hence, all these reasons show how arsenic toxicity can inhibit cellular respiration.