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Ch. 2 The Chemistry of Life

Chapter 2, Problem 3.5a

The drug methotrexate is used to treat several different types of cancer and diseases of the immune system. It works by inhibiting an enzyme in the cell necessary for folic acid synthesis. Without folic acid, the cell cannot make nucleotides. What, specifically, does an enzyme do in the cell? Why would inhibiting this enzyme disrupt folic acid synthesis? What effect would a disruption in folic acid synthesis have on the cell as a whole? (Hint: Think about the role that folic acid plays in the cell.) (Connects to Chapter 2)

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Hey, everyone. Let's take a look at this question together. This water soluble vitamin is essential for nucleotide synthesis. Is it answer choice. A ascorbic acid answer choice B diamine. Answer choice C folic acid or answer choice D niacin. Let's work this problem out together to try to figure out which of the following answer choices is the water soluble vitamin that is essential for nucleotide synthesis. So in order to solve this question, we have to recall what we have learned about nucleotide synthesis and what water soluble vitamin is essential for that nucleotide synthesis. And we can recall that a water soluble vitamin is required for DNA replication. Since that water soluble vitamin acts as a substrate for various enzymatic reactions. And we can recall that the water soluble vitamin that is required for DNA replication that acts as a substrate for various enzymatic reactions is vitamin B nine, which is also known as folic acid or folate. So, answer choice C folic acid is the correct answer. And all other answer choices are incorrect. I hope you found this video to be helpful. Thank you and goodbye.