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Multiple Choice
What is the most likely consequence for an organism that lacks one or more enzymes in a specific biosynthetic pathway?
A
The pathway will continue to function normally, as enzymes are not essential for biosynthetic reactions.
B
The organism will compensate by producing the missing enzyme through alternative genetic pathways.
C
The organism will be unable to synthesize the end product of that pathway, potentially leading to metabolic disorders or dependence on external sources for that compound.
D
The organism will increase the rate of the pathway to overcome the missing enzyme.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the role of enzymes in biosynthetic pathways. Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering the activation energy required for the reaction to occur. Without enzymes, many reactions in biosynthetic pathways would proceed too slowly or not at all under physiological conditions.
Step 2: Analyze the consequences of missing enzymes in a biosynthetic pathway. If an enzyme is absent, the specific reaction it catalyzes cannot occur, leading to a blockage in the pathway. This prevents the synthesis of the end product of the pathway.
Step 3: Consider the organism's ability to compensate for the missing enzyme. While some organisms may have alternative pathways or mechanisms to bypass the blockage, this is not always possible. In many cases, the organism becomes dependent on external sources for the compound that cannot be synthesized internally.
Step 4: Evaluate the potential impact on the organism. The inability to synthesize essential compounds can lead to metabolic disorders, impaired growth, or other physiological issues. For example, humans with phenylketonuria lack the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase, leading to an inability to metabolize phenylalanine properly.
Step 5: Conclude that enzymes are essential for the proper functioning of biosynthetic pathways. The absence of one or more enzymes disrupts the pathway, preventing the synthesis of the end product and potentially causing significant metabolic consequences for the organism.