Cellular Respiration STEM Case

Introduction: Jared, a CIA agent, has been poisoned by a criminal gang and has been
rescued by Navy SEALs. As a Medical Toxicologist, you will learn the concepts of
cellular respiration and perform an investigation to identify which poison has been
used. You will then apply an antidote to save the agent.

Follow the steps for the case. Take notes and fill in charts as required or needed.

Steps of Cellular Respiration

Process Uses Makes

Glycolysis Splits glucose into two 2 molecules of pyruvate

pyruvates.
Small amount of ATP is made.

Krebs Cycle Uses pyruvate molecules. Makes NADH and ATP.

Carbon Dioxide waste product.

ETC Uses electrons from NADH H+ moves into the

intermembrane space

Water is created by h+, O2,

electron reaction.

Without oxygen electrons won't

be able to leave.

ATP Synthase H+ ions ATP

34 ATP

Possible Poisons

Poisons What they do to the cells

2-deoxyglucose Stopys glycolysis.

arsenic

Stops the krebs cycle

cyanide Stops the electron transport chain.

oligomycin

Stops ATP Synthase

Data from testing Jared’s muscle

Healthy Jared’s 2- arsenic cyanide oligomycin

Muscle Muscle deoxyglucose
cells Cells

Pyruvate 0.12 0.12 0.02 0.25 0.11 0.12

NADH 0.30 0.50 0.08 0.17 0.50 0.30

H+ 0.32 0.05 0.09 0.20 0.07 1.10

Which poison do you believe Jared was poisoned with? Why (change as needed by crossing out your previous
and rewriting as more details are gained)
Cyanide is the poison affecting Jared because his electron transport chain isn't working. He has normal levels of
NADH but abnormal levels of intermembrane H+ meaning his electron transport chain is not sending enough
H+ ions into the intermembrane space.

Case Summary

1. Explain how cyanide caused Jared’s symptoms (e.g., muscle weakness).

Cyanide caused Jared’s symptoms because Jared’s body isn’t producing enough ATP since it doesn't have
enough H+ molecules. Because of this, he doesn't have enough strength to do processes like muscle contraction
and movement.

2. Explain how the data from your experiments showed that cyanide was used to poison Jared, and that 2-
deoxyglucose, arsenic and oligomycin were not used.

The data shows that cyanide is the only poison that had the same traits, same pyruvate, increased NADH, and
decreased Intermembrane H+. Therefore, we know cyanide was the poison.

3. Describe how the antidote (treatment) helped Jared's cells make ATP (include the ETC and H+ gradient
in your answer).

The antidote creates water by bonding with the cyanide. Therefore the electron transport chain will work again
pumping enough H+ into the inter membrane space producing normal levels ATP.

4. Attach a copy of Certificate of Completion below.