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Question #45227

Difficulty: 8/10 | 🟢 Free

The Question

A researcher introduces a synthetic structural analog of Fructose-6-phosphate into a culture of aerobic mammalian cells. This analog acts as a strict competitive inhibitor of the pacemaker enzyme of glycolysis. Which of the following metabolic consequences will be observed most immediately?

Options

  • A.

    Accumulation of Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate and an increase in the cellular ATP/AMP ratio.

  • B.

    Accumulation of Fructose-6-phosphate, a severe reduction in cytosolic pyruvate flux, and a declining ATP/AMP ratio.

  • C.

    Rapid depletion of Glucose-6-phosphate and a compensatory surge in the mitochondrial Link Reaction.

  • D.

    Uninterrupted substrate-level phosphorylation in the payoff phase of glycolysis due to allosteric activation by ADP.

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Correct Answer

Step-by-Step Solution

Explanation

How the Examiner Thinks

Regulatory_Failure

Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.

Concepts Behind This Question

Competitive Enzyme Inhibition Kinetics|Glycolysis Redox Balance|Pyruvate Decarboxylation Complexity

Why This Question Is Tricky

Common Mistakes

Conceptual Pivot: Students often memorize that PFK is allosterically inhibited by ATP, but fail to trace the kinetic consequences of competitive inhibition at the active site.

The trap lies in understanding 'Metabolic Flux'—if a pathway is blocked early on, upstream intermediates accumulate while downstream products (pyruvate, ATP) are depleted, starving the mitochondria despite the presence of oxygen.

Quick Facts About This Question

Question Information

SubjectBiology
ChapterBiomolecules - Class 11
ConceptCompetitive Enzyme Inhibition Kinetics
Difficulty8
Cognitive Load5
Target Solve Time120 sec
AccessFree