Question

Uansport found in the intestine, id found in some fruits 36. The bacterium Oxalobacter formigenes is found in the where it plays a role in digesting the oxalic acid found in som and vegetables (spinach is a particularly rich source). The bacteri takes up oxalic acid from the extracellular medium in the form oxalate. Once inside the cell, the oxalate undergoes decarboxylation to produce formate, which leaves the cell in antiport with the oxalate a. What is the net charge imbalance generated by this system? b. Why do you suppose the investigators who elucidated this mech- anism referred to the process as a “hydrogen pump"? 1980 morlu bus mo- i Istod decarboxylases 9 2 Isito OOC-C00 — → H-COO Oxalate s Formate ol bol el tien) og H+ CO,

Answer 1

a. The net charge imbalance generated is the overall difference produced in the charge on a compound.

In this reaction the oxalate is being converted to formate with the help of decarboxylase enzyme. It adds a hydrogen group to the oxalate converting it into formate. There is removal of one carbon atom.

The oxalate has net negative charge of 2-.

The formate has the net negative charge of 1-. In this there is one oxygen group with negative charge. So charge imbalance is of -1.

b. This process can be referred to as the hydrogen pump. In this step the hydrogen group is added to the the oxalate to produce formate by the decarboxylase.

In this proton is given to the system.

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