AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

Which of the following is an example of an anabolic reaction?

Possible Answers:

Glucose-6-phosphate being isomerized to form fructose-6-phosphate

Citrate being converted to ketoglutarate

Acetyl CoA combining with oxaloacetate to form citrate

Glucose being converted to two pyruvate molecules

Correct answer:

Acetyl CoA combining with oxaloacetate to form citrate

Explanation:

An anabolic reaction is one in which larger molecules are made from combining smaller molecules. Even without knowing the exact mechanics of the reactions given in the answer choices, we know that we are looking for a reaction in which multiple molecules combine to form a single molecule.

Out of the options, there is only one time where a larger molecule is made by the combination of two smaller ones: when acetyl CoA (2 carbons) and oxaloacetate (4 carbons) come together in order to create citrate (6 carbons).

The generation of pyruvate from glucose results in two smaller molecules from one larger molecule; this is a catalysis reaction. The conversion of glucose-6-phosphate to fructose-6-phosphate is an isomerization reaction. The transition from citrate to ketoglutarate is processed through an intermediate, but is ultimately a catalysis reaction.

Example Question #53 : Cellular Respiration

Which of the following processes occurs without oxygen?

Possible Answers:

Fermentation

Citric acid cycle

Electron transport chain

Krebs cycle 

Correct answer:

Fermentation

Explanation:

Fermentation is a catabolic process which does not require oxygen. In contrast, Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation (chemiosmosis and electron transport) do use oxygen. Aerobic respiration is much more efficient than anaerobic respiration in producing ATP.  

Example Question #61 : Cell Functions

Where does the Krebs cycle takes place?

Possible Answers:

Cytosol

Stroma

Nucleus

Mitochondrial matrix

Correct answer:

Mitochondrial matrix

Explanation:

The Krebs cycle takes place within the mitochondrial matrix of mitochondria. Glycolysis occurs in the cell's cytosol. The stroma is part of plant chloroplasts, thus it is not the site of the Krebs cycle.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

Where does the citric acid (Krebs) cycle occur in human cells?

Possible Answers:

Mitochondrial matrix

Ribosomes

Inner mitochondrial membrane

Nucleus

Cytoplasm

Correct answer:

Mitochondrial matrix

Explanation:

The citric acid (Krebs) cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix. The Krebs cycle involves using acetyl-CoA as a substrate to produce high energy electron carriers  and  to later participate in electron transport, ultimately yielding . Glycolysis is the process by which glucose is split into two molecules of pyruvate, and occurs in the cytoplasm. The electron transport chain performs its function in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The nucleus and ribosomes are not part of the citric acid cycle.

Example Question #231 : Ap Biology

How many  molecules are produced from the citric acid cycle per acetyl-CoA?  

Possible Answers:

3

4

1

5

2

Correct answer:

2

Explanation:

Two  molecules are produced per one "turn" around the cycle. Note that each glucose results in two pyruvate, which convert to two acetyl-CoA and power the citric acid cycle for two turns.

Example Question #62 : Cell Functions

Glucose is a six-carbon molecule that is needed to initiate glycolysis. The products of glycolysis are two three-carbon molecules known as __________.

Possible Answers:

glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

ATP

pyruvate

acetyl-CoA

NADH

Correct answer:

pyruvate

Explanation:

Glycolysis, is a series of reactions in the first part of cellular respiration. It involves the breaking down of larger molecules such as glucose into smaller ones such as pyruvate. Glucose is a six-carbon molecule that gets broken down into two three-carbon pyruvate molecules during glycolysis. Afterwards, pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA, which enters the Krebs cycle in the mitochondria.

Example Question #63 : Cell Functions

Immediately after glycolysis, pyruvate forms which of the following products?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Immediately after pyruvate is formed through glycolysis, it enters the mitochondria. Here, it undergoes a reaction to form the following products:

The reaction, known as the "intermediate step" or "pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC)" can be summarized as:

Pyruvate is a three-carbon molecule that forms a two-carbon acetyl-CoA and a molecule of carbon dioxide.

Example Question #11 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

All of the following are products of the Krebs cycle except __________.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The Krebs cycle begins with the combination of oxaloacetate with acetyl-CoA and produces  is not product of the Krebs cycle, but a reactant.

Example Question #16 : Understanding The Citric Acid Cycle

The citric acid cycle is an essential part of cellular respiration, but it only occurs under aerobic conditions. Under anaerobic conditions, the products of glycolysis are metabolized under a different pathway.

Under anaerobic conditions (excluding bacteria and yeast), pyruvate is converted to __________ to produce __________.

Possible Answers:

Ethanol . . . 

ethanol . . . 

lactic acid . . . 

lactic acid . . . 

lactic acid . . . 

Correct answer:

lactic acid . . . 

Explanation:

Under anaerobic conditions, the 2 molecules of pyruvate produced from glycolysis cannot undergo further oxidation; therefore, they are reduced to lactate (lactic acid) and . This allows glycolysis to continue in order for cells to produce ATP under anaerobic conditions. Once  is cycled back through glycolysis, glucose metabolism can continue to produce 2 net molecules of ATP for cellular energy.

Example Question #64 : Cell Functions

Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate produced from glycolysis is metabolized through the citric acid cycle.

The products of the citric acid cycle include all of the following except __________.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Upon completion of the citric acid cycle, 1 molecule of , 2 molecules of , 3 molecules of , and 1 molecule of  are produced.  is not produced during the citric acid cycle.  is the product of the pentose phosphate pathway.  is a powerful reducing agent used in several metabolic pathways. For example, it is used in red blood cells to reduce glutathione. Note that the products listed above represent those from one turn of the citric acid cycle; each molecule of glucose produces two molecules of acetyl-CoA, thus the cycle turns twice per glucose molecule.

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