A chemist has discovered a drug that blocks phosphoglucoisomerase, an enzyme that catalyzes the second reaction in glycolysis. He wants to use the drug to kill bacteria in people with infections. However, he cannot do this because __________.

• A. bacteria are prokaryotes; they usually do not need to perform glycolysis
• B. glycolysis produces so little ATP that the drug will have little effect
• C. this step in the pathway of glycolysis can be skipped in bacteria but not in humans
• D. glycolysis can occur without the action of enzymes
• E. human cells must also perform glycolysis; the drug might also poison them

Answer: (E)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the role of glycolysis: Glycolysis is a critical metabolic pathway that occurs in the cytoplasm of cells, converting glucose into pyruvate while generating ATP and NADH. It is essential for energy production in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.
2. Identify the enzyme's function: Phosphoglucoisomerase is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate, which is the second step in glycolysis. Blocking this enzyme would halt glycolysis, affecting ATP production.
3. Consider the impact on bacteria: While bacteria are prokaryotes, they do perform glycolysis as part of their energy metabolism. Blocking glycolysis in bacteria would inhibit their ability to produce ATP, potentially killing them.
4. Evaluate the effect on human cells: Human cells also rely on glycolysis for energy production, especially in cells that lack mitochondria or during anaerobic conditions. Blocking glycolysis in human cells would disrupt their energy metabolism, leading to potential toxicity.
5. Conclude the implications: Since both bacteria and human cells perform glycolysis, using a drug that blocks phosphoglucoisomerase would affect both, potentially poisoning human cells along with bacterial cells. This makes the drug unsuitable for treating bacterial infections in humans.