In a reaction where an organic molecule RH gives its electrons to the oxidized carrier of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, what role does RH play?
AIt acts as an allosteric effector
BIt acts as the oxidizing agent
CIt acts as the reducing agent
DIt acts as a prosthetic group
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. It acts as the reducing agent
1. A compound that reduces another compound is named the reducing agent.
2. RH hands its electrons over, so the carrier gains them and is reduced.
3. Because RH is the one doing the reducing, RH is the reducing agent and is itself oxidized to R.
4. The oxidizing agent in the same reaction is the carrier in its oxidized state, not RH.
5. A prosthetic group is a non-protein molecule needed for a protein to work, which RH is not.
6. An allosteric effector binds an enzyme to change its activity, which is a control role rather than an electron donor role.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Cellular Respiration", section 7.1 Energy in Living Systems_
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