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Question #46376
The Question
A patient suffering from Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) exhibits heavily calcified atheromatous plaques in the coronary vessels. They are prescribed a commercial blood-cholesterol lowering agent derived from the yeast Monascus purpureus. Which of the following statements correctly identifies the mechanism of action and the physiological limitation of this agent?
Options
- A.
It acts as a competitive inhibitor of the enzyme responsible for cholesterol synthesis, preventing further lipid deposition, but fails to dissolve existing calcified anatomical blockages.
- B.
It acts as a non-competitive inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase, reducing systemic LDL levels and actively regressing the calcified fibrous tissues in the coronary lumen.
- C.
It functions as a 'clot buster' by competitively inhibiting cholesterol synthesis, thereby immediately restoring myocardial perfusion in the obstructed coronary artery.
- D.
It allosterically inhibits the rate-limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, stabilizing the plaque and enzymatically degrading the existing coronary obstructions.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
HMG-CoA reductase|Atherosclerosis|Coronary artery
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Students often confuse the biochemical prevention of plaque formation with the anatomical resolution of existing plaques.
Furthermore, NCERT explicitly states statins are 'competitive inhibitors', making options with 'non-competitive' or 'allosteric' factually incorrect.
The trap also tests the distinction between a cholesterol-lowering agent (Statin) and a clot buster (Streptokinase).
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Body Fluids and Circulation - Class 11 |
| Concept | Coronary Circulation Specifics |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |