Mechanism of Toxicity

MECHANISM OF TOXICITY

  • Arsenic reacts with the sulphydryl group of lipoic acid.
  • Lipoic acid is an essential co-factor for the enzymatic decarboxylation of keto acids such as pyruvate, ketoglutarate and ketobutyrate.
  • By inactivating lipoic acid, arsenic inhibits formation of acetyl, succinyl and propionyl coenzymes A.
  • So there is inhibition or slowing of glycolysis and of the citric acid cycle.
  • Arsenic also inactivates sulphydryl groups of oxidative enzymes and glutathione.
  • Pentavalent arsenate is a well-known un-coupler of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.


Last modified: Monday, 16 May 2011, 1:31 PM