Metabolic pathways Original Scenario-Based Practice

Questions

1. 1.

   In a synthetic biology habitat, researchers designed an engineered microbe, Lumina vitis, that synthesizes a fluorescent metabolite, luxiferol, through a linear three-step metabolic pathway involving precursor S, intermediate X, and intermediate Y. In this pathway, Enzyme 1 converts S to X, Enzyme 2 converts X to Y, and Enzyme 3 converts Y to luxiferol. To conserve cellular energy, luxiferol functions as an allosteric inhibitor of Enzyme 1 via feedback inhibition when present in high amounts. If a targeted chemical agent completely inactivates Enzyme 2, which metabolic outcome will be observed in these cells?

   • A) Luxiferol production will accelerate rapidly, causing permanent feedback inhibition of Enzyme 1.
   • B) The concentration of intermediate Y will rise sharply while intermediate X is completely depleted.
   • C) Enzyme 1 will cease functioning because intermediate X binds directly to its allosteric regulatory site.
   • D) The concentration of intermediate X will accumulate while luxiferol synthesis ceases, relieving feedback inhibition on Enzyme 1.

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