Question

(i) Draw the structure of acetylcholine and mark and write the name of the chemical bond in the molecule.

(ii) Write the structures of products that would be formed when a neuronal cell degrade acetylcholine. Write the name of the enzyme that will catalyze the degradation reaction.

(iii) Write the name of the type of chemical reaction that occurs during the degradation reaction. Give reasons for the reaction

Answer 1

(i)

Structure of acetylcholine can be drawn shown below:

(ii)

Neuronal cell degrades acetylcholine to acetic acid and choline using an ezyme called as acetylcholinesterase.

(iii)

The name of chemical reaction involving degradation of acetyl choline to acetic acid and choline is hydrolysis. In the reaction enzyme acetylcholinestarase adds a molecule of water across ester and hydrolyzes it to acid and alcohol parts. Acidic part is acetic acid and alcohol part is choline.