An odd microorganism was found to produce ATP by forming a Cl- gradient across i
ID: 78202 • Letter: A
Question
An odd microorganism was found to produce ATP by forming a Cl- gradient across its single membrane as shown below, with excess Cl- inside the cell causing a gradient to allow favorable formation of ATP. Unfortunately, this organism lives in the bloodstream and was found to be very pathogenic to humans. Researchers immediately determined that there is an easy way to combat the organism; this approach involved eating simple molecules already found in food that caused the organism to be much less able to produce ATP. Answer these questions:
A. Assuming this ATPase is analogous to the human ATPase we studied, in this bacterium, which way will Cl- flow to create ATP?
B. Assuming that any food you eat would get to the organism and not be regulated before it got there, what could you eat to hinder this organism’s production of ATP?
C. Why would your suggested food work?
D. Which subunits of the APTase on the bacterium would you expect to be different from a humans? Which would you expect to the similar?
E. Some students in the class suggest using a phosphate analog that will bind to the ATPase but prevent it from creating ATP from ADP. Why would this not be a good idea for combating this bacterium in a human?
***I mainly need help with the last two questions.
(outside the cell in the bloodstream of the host, lower [Cll) (Inside the cell: high [Ch]) (another diagram of how it works): Cl (inside the cell high [Chl)Explanation / Answer
Answers:
A) Due presence of single membrane
B) ATP production by H+ ion instead chloride ion in old bacterium
C) Food work because bloodstream of Chloride ion formation
D) Human ATPase has 6 subunits, differ only Fo particles
E) ATP synthase would remain sensitive to Fo proton conduction inhibitors