Biochemistry : Amino Acids and Proteins

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #31 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which of the following is classified as a catecholamine?

Possible Answers:

Cortisol 

Epinephrine 

Insulin

Testosterone 

Glucagon 

Correct answer:

Epinephrine 

Explanation:

Catecholamines are derived from tyrosine and are epinephrine and norepinephrine. Testosterone and cortisol are steroid hormones; insulin and glucagon are polypeptide hormones.

Example Question #31 : Amino Acids And Proteins

All Amino Acids are considered amphoteric.

If a substance is said to be amphoteric, what is true of this substance?

Possible Answers:

It can function in both cold and warm temperatures 

It can act as an acid or a base

It can function in high salt environments 

It as a polar head and a non-polar tail

It does not contain carbon

Correct answer:

It can act as an acid or a base

Explanation:

Amphoteric substances can act as an acid or a base. An example of an amphoteric substance is an amino acid. Amphipathic is the term assigned to molecules that possesses both hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions. An example of an amphipathic molecule is a phospholipid. Compounds that do not contain carbon are typically referred to as inorganic.

Example Question #32 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Phenylketonurics have a deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase. Which of the following describes the effect of this deficiency?

Possible Answers:

Convert phenylalanine to tyrosine  

Convert tyrosine to L-dopa 

Convert tyrosine to T3 and T4

Convert phenylalanine to tryptophan 

Convert tyrosine to melanin 

Correct answer:

Convert phenylalanine to tyrosine  

Explanation:

In phenylketonurics, the body cannot convert phenylalanine into tyrosine due to deficiency in phenylalanine hydroxylase. This can be observed by looking at the structures of these amino acids, as they only differ by the hydroxyl group on the benzene ring. Tyrosine is a necessary precursor to L-DOPA (dihydroxyphenylalanine), dopamine, catecholamine neurotransmitters, melanin, thyroid hormones, and other biologically relevant substances.

Example Question #31 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which is a correct pair of abbreviations for an amino acid?

Possible Answers:

His/W

Asp/A

Asn/N

Gln/G

Correct answer:

Asn/N

Explanation:

The one letter code for asparagine (asn) is N.  The one letter code for aspartic acid (asp) is D. The one letter code for histidine (his) is H. The one letter code for glutamine (gln) is Q.

Example Question #35 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Disulfide bonds occur between the side chains of which amino acid residues? 

Possible Answers:

Lysine

Methionine

Glutamine

Cysteine

Correct answer:

Cysteine

Explanation:

Cysteine is the only amino acid that forms disulfide bonds. Methionine also contains sulfur but does form these bonds.

Example Question #31 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which of the following is true?

Possible Answers:

Alanine and valine are basic amino acids.

Arginine and lysine are acidic amino acids.

Phenylalanine and tryptophan are aromatic amino acids.

Glutamic acid and asparagine are hydrophobic amino acids.

Correct answer:

Phenylalanine and tryptophan are aromatic amino acids.

Explanation:

Aromatic amino acids are those which contain one or more aromatic rings. There are four examples of this: tryptophan, phenylalanine, histidine, and tyrosine. Basic amino acids are those which contain basic side chains at neutral pH, and may carry a positive charge. There are three examples of this: histidine, arginine, and lysine. Hydrophobic amino acids are those which contain "water-fearing" side chains; these amino acids are found within the hydrophobic protein core. There are seven examples of this: alanine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, valine, proline, and glycine. Acidic amino acids are those which contain acidic side chains at neutral pH and may carry a net negative charge. There are two examples of this: glutamic acid and aspartic acid.

Example Question #34 : Amino Acids And Proteins

What is the proper one letter abbreviation for the following amino acid?

Vt biochem 11 28 15 tyrosine

Possible Answers:

R

Y

T

I

C

Correct answer:

Y

Explanation:

From the molecular structure shown in the question stem, we need to be able to recognize that this is tyrosine. Furthermore, the correct one letter abbreviation for tyrosine is Y, and its three letter abbreviation is Tyr.

T is the one letter abbreviation for threonine.

I is the one letter abbreviation for isoleucine.

R is the one letter abbreviation for arginine.

C is the one letter abbreviation for cysteine.

Example Question #32 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which of the following properties of a protein is primarily responsible for the function of that particular protein?

Possible Answers:

The molecular weight of the protein

The number of amino acids contained by the protein

The structural conformation of the protein

The number of cofactors that bind to the protein

The affinity of that protein to to nonpolar compounds

Correct answer:

The structural conformation of the protein

Explanation:

Just as with many things in biology, structure determines function. Proteins are no exception. Even though there are other things that can contribute to the functioning of a protein, such as cofactors or allosteric regulators (in the case of enzymes), a protein's unique structure can grant it unique functions.

As an example, let's look at enzymes. For an enzyme to function, it must be able to bind its substrate. A big part of what makes this possible is for the enzyme's active site to be structured in such a way that it can accept the substrate molecule. Furthermore, the enzyme's active site structure also plays a role in how that enzyme distorts the substrate and puts strain on its bonds in order to catalyze the transformation of that substrate into product.

Example Question #31 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

A small synthetic peptide is composed of three amino acids: arginine (pKa = 12.48), lysine (pKa = 10.54), and aspartate (pKa = 3.90). Under normal physiological conditions (pH = 7.4), what will be the overall charge of this peptide? Note: the pKa values are for the side chains. 

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

At physiological pH, the amino group of an amino acid is protonated and carries a  charge, whereas the carboxyl group is deprotonated and carries a  charge. Therefore, only side chains contribute to the overall charge (the amino and carboxyl group charges cancel out). pKa refers to the pH at which half of the side chain functional group in question will be protonated and the other half deprotonated. For acidic amino acids (aspartate and glutamate), the deprotonated form will carry a  charge (protonated neutral), as it has donated a proton. For basic amino acids (histidine, arginine, and lysine), the protonated form will carry a  charge (deprotonated neutral), as it has accepted a proton. At pH = 7.4, there are more protons in solution than at a pH of 12.48, so arginine will be mostly protonated . There are more protons as well than at a pH of 10.54, so Lysine will also be protonated . But there are fewer protons than at a pH of 3.90, so aspartate will be deprotonated . Therefore, the overall charge is:

Example Question #40 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which amino acid has the one-letter symbol E?

Possible Answers:

Alanine

Isoleucine

Glutamic acid

Proline

Correct answer:

Glutamic acid

Explanation:

Amino acids can be identified by their full names, a three-letter code, and a one-letter symbol. The one-letter symbol of glutamic acid is E. The one-letter symbol of proline is P. The one-letter symbol of isoleucine is I. The one-letter symbol of alanine is A.

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