AP Biology : Macromolecules

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : Macromolecules

Which of the following correctly describes saturated fats?

Possible Answers:

In saturated fats, the carbons have double bonds between them.

Saturated fats are usually liquid at room temperature.

Saturated fats have single bonds between nitrogen and carbon.

In saturated fats, the carbons contain the maximum amount of hydrogens bonded to them.

Correct answer:

In saturated fats, the carbons contain the maximum amount of hydrogens bonded to them.

Explanation:

In saturated fats, the carbons have single bonds between them and the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.  Saturated fats do not have nitrogen, and they are solid at room temperature.

Example Question #82 : Macromolecules

Which of the following is true of unsaturated fats?

Possible Answers:

Unsaturated fats have the maximum number of hydrogens bonded to the carbons.

Unsaturated fats are solids at room temperature.

The nitrogens are bonded to a phosphate group in a chain.

Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between between carbons in the fatty acid chain.

Correct answer:

Unsaturated fats have one or more double bonds between between carbons in the fatty acid chain.

Explanation:

Unsaturated fats have at least one double bond between two carbons in the fatty acid and do not have the maximum number of hydrogens.  They do not contain nitrogen and are usually liquid at room temperature.

Example Question #83 : Macromolecules

Which of the following is not a function of lipids?

Possible Answers:

Folding proteins

Signal transduction

Storing energy

Maintaining body temperature

Forming membranes around organelles

Correct answer:

Folding proteins

Explanation:

Lipids are what make up fats. Fats store energy and help insulate animals against the cold. They also form lipid bilayers that surround cells and organelles. All steroid hormones are derived from cholesterol, a lipid. Thus, lipids play a significant role in signal transduction. Folding proteins is a function left to other proteins.

Example Question #2501 : Ap Biology

Cholesterol is ultimately a type of steroid, meaning it is a part of what type of macromolecule?

Possible Answers:

Proteins

Sugars

Nucleic acids

Carbohydrates

Lipids

Correct answer:

Lipids

Explanation:

Cholesterol is a steroid and steroids are types of lipids. Cholesterol is common in animal cell membranes and works as a precursor for many other steroids and affects cell membrane fluidity.

Example Question #84 : Macromolecules

Which of the following is true regarding a saturated fatty acid?

Possible Answers:

It is a liquid at room temperature

It has at least one double bond in its hydrocarbon tail

It has no double bonds in its hydrocarbon tail

Its hydrocarbon tail is bent

Correct answer:

It has no double bonds in its hydrocarbon tail

Explanation:

A fatty acid is considered unsaturated if it contains one or more double bonds (indicated by the = sign). These double bonds occur between carbon atoms (represented as C). Be able to recognize the general structure of important macromolecules. Lipids rich in saturated fatty acids tend to be solids at room temperature (butter, lard, coconut oil).

Example Question #81 : Macromolecules

Which of the following has both a hydrophobic and hydrophillic portion? 

Possible Answers:

starch

proteins

chitin

phospholipids

steriods

Correct answer:

phospholipids

Explanation:

A phospholipid has a hydrophobic tail and a hydrophillic head. The hydrocarbon section composes the hydrophobic tail and dislikes water. The phosphate group composes of the hydrophillic head and likes water. The combination makes a semi-permeable membrane that we know as the lipid bilayer. 

Example Question #81 : Macromolecules

Which of the following statements about enzymes is false?

Possible Answers:

Cofactors and coenzymes, such as metals and vitamins, can affect the ability of the enzyme

Enzymes accelerate the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy necessary for the reaction to proceed

Enzymes are consumed during reactions

Competitive inhibitors can block enzymatic activity by binding in the active site

Correct answer:

Enzymes are consumed during reactions

Explanation:

Enzymes are not changed or consumed by the reactions they catalyze, but can be altered by environmental conditions. They work in three-dimensional active sites to bind specific substrates and lower the activation of certain reactions, subsequently increasing the reaction rate. Reaction rate can be further increased when enzymes react with cofactors or coenzymes, but decreased when enzymes are blocked from their specified active sites by competitive inhibitors.

Example Question #53 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

The monomers of all biological macromolecules are combined by which type of bond?

Possible Answers:

London dispersion forces

Hydrogen bond

Covalent bond

Ionic bond

Correct answer:

Covalent bond

Explanation:

Macromolecules, such as proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides, are composed of monomers. Each polymer is made from at least two smaller monomers. Protein monomers are amino acids, nucleic acid monomers are nucleotides, and polysaccharide monomers are monosaccharides. In order to form polymers, the monomers must form covalent bonds with one another.

For proteins, these covalent bonds are peptide bonds, and for saccharides they are glycosidic linkages.

Example Question #51 : Identify Structure And Purpose Of Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, And Nucleic Acids

What event would activate a G protein?

Possible Answers:

Phosphorylation of GDP to GTP

Hydrolysis of GTP to GDP

Phosphorylation of GTP to GDP

Hydrolysis of GDP to GTP

Replacement of GDP with GTP

Correct answer:

Replacement of GDP with GTP

Explanation:

G proteins are second messengers involved in cell signaling and propagation or effects within the cell. G protein receptors in the plasma membrane bind to extracellular ligands, causing them to recruit G proteins. Inactive G proteins carry ADP. Once they bind to G protein receptors in the membrane, this GDP molecule is removed, and a GTP molecule is substituted to activate the G protein.

The activated G protein then binds another protein and hydrolyzes GTP to GDP to activate this protein and stimulate cellular effects.

Example Question #85 : Macromolecules

Amino acids are most closely related to which macromolecule?

Possible Answers:

Disaccharide

Polypeptide

Nucleic acid

Triglyceride

Correct answer:

Polypeptide

Explanation:

An amino acid is the monomer unit of the polymer known as a polypeptide. Polypeptide chains form the primary structure of proteins.

A monosaccharide is the simplest unit of a carbohydrate; a monosaccharide dimer is a disaccharide. Triglycerides are a simple form of lipid and nucleic acids are primarily composed of nucleotide monomers.

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