Question

After giving her dog a bath, a young girl suddenly died. The flea dip she was using on the dog contains a chemical called rotenone which inhibits the function of an enzyme that oxidizes NADH to NAD+. Her autopsy revealed massive cell death in her internal organs and damage to her mitochondria. The levels of NAD+ were very low and the levels of NADH were very high in her mitochondria. What part of cellular respiration was affected by the rotenone (1 pt)? How could this have led to her death (1 pt)?

Answer 1

Although this scenario is unlikely to take place, rotenone is toxic because it interferes with the electron transport chain (ETC) in mitochondria, so NADH would build up as suggested. You can learn about the ETC here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_transport_chain

Answer 2

Ahh, UCF Bio Lab!? Sorry, I really don't have an answer either, hence the fact that I found this.