The toxic effect of cyanide on aerobic respiration

To understand this issue, we must to know what cyanide is.

A cyanide is a chemical compound that contains the group C≡N. This group, known as the cyano group,
consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom.

Exposure to a large amount of cyanide can cause damage to the brain and cardiovascular, if exposed to
low doses can cause consequences such as breathing difficulties, heart attack, vomiting, blood change,
headache, wide Thyroid. Just 50-200 mg of cyanide or inhalation of 0.2% of cyanide gas, can kill an adult
immediately. Cyanide is used as a lot of poisons from ancient times, especially Hydro Cyanide. According
to the simulation, cyanide smells almonds.

So, what is the reason of this toxic effect on aerobic respiration ?

As you know, most of organelles in the cell are uses oxygen to maintain life and respiratory aerobic is
also take place in that. When cyanide goes into the body, it prevents taking oxygen of cells in the body
that causes these cells to die, higher can cause rapid death due to suffocation.

The cyanide anion is an inhibitor of the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (also known as aa3), the fourth
complex of the electron transport chain found in the inner membrane of
the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. It attaches to the iron within this protein. The binding of cyanide to
this enzyme prevents transport of electrons from cytochrome c to oxygen. As a result, the electron
transport chain is disrupted, meaning that the cell can no longer aerobically produce ATP for energy.
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Tissues that depend highly on aerobic respiration, such as the central nervous system and the heart,
are particularly affected.

So, Cyanide has a high toxicity, with only a very small concentration of it can be deadly.