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Chapter 38: Q. 3 (page 1119)

The deadly nerve gas Sarin irreversibly inhibits Acetylcholinesterase. What effect would Sarin have on muscle contraction?

Short Answer

Expert verified
  • Sarin prevents acetylcholine from being removed from the synapse, resulting in continuous stimulation of muscle plasma membranes.
  • Initially, muscle activity is intense and uncontrolled, but the ion gradients dissipate, so electrical signals cannot be transmitted.
  • It causes paralysis and asphyxiation, which results in death.

Step by step solution

01

Step: 1 Acetylcholinesterase is inhibited by sarin gas

  • Sarin, tabun, and soman are examples of a type of element with high lipophilicity that can vaporise at room temperature.
  • They have phosphorus groups and aggressively bind to acetylcholinesterase, inhibiting it from performing its function.
02

Step: 2 Sarin's impact on muscular contraction

  • By inhibiting acetylcholinesterase, Sarin acts. This protein normally degrades acetylcholine released at synaptic clefts.
  • Thenervefibresthatcontrolmuscularcontractionareactivatedbyacetylcholine.
  • Muscles won't relax if the neurotransmitter isn't taken out.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Which of the following is not a characteristic of the synovial fluid?

a. lubrication

b. shock absorption

c. regulation of water balance in the joint

d. protection of articular cartilage

All of the following are groups of vertebrae except ________, which is a curvature.

  1. thoracic
  2. cervical
  3. lumbar
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While assembling a skeleton of a new species, a scientist points to one of the bones and observes that it looks like the most likely site of leg muscle attachment. What kind of bone did she indicate?

  1. sesamoid bone
  2. long bone
  3. trabecular bone
  4. flat bone

Botulinum toxin causes flaccid paralysis of the muscles, and is used for cosmetic purposes under the name Botox. Which of the following is the most likely mechanism of action of Botox?

  1. Botox decreases the production of acetylcholinesterase.
  2. Botox increases calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
  3. Botox blocks the ATP binding site in actin.
  4. Botox decreases the release of acetylcholine from motor neurons.

The cell membrane of a muscle fiber is called a ________.

a. myofibril

b. sarcolemma

c. sarcoplasm

d. myofilament
See all solutions

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