Biochemistry : Anabolic Pathways and Synthesis

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #52 : Nucleic Acid Synthesis

Inhibition of RNA polymerase II would disrupt which of the following processes?

Possible Answers:

Synthesis of tRNA

Synthesis of mRNA

Synthesis of protein

Synthesis of rRNA

Synthesis of DNA

Correct answer:

Synthesis of mRNA

Explanation:

RNA polymerase II is the polymerase that catalyzes the synthesis of mRNA from a coding strand of DNA. Therefore, mRNA synthesis would be greatly affected by an inhibition of RNA polymerase II.

Example Question #9 : Regulating Transcription

How does the action of histone acetyltransferases affect transcription?

Possible Answers:

It increases the rate of transcription by adding positive charge to histones

It decreases the rate of transcription by removing positive charge from histones

It decreases the rate of transcription by adding positive charge to histones

It increases the rate of transcription by removing positive charge from histones

Correct answer:

It increases the rate of transcription by removing positive charge from histones

Explanation:

For this question, we need to consider how histone acetyltransferases affect histones. Then, we need to determine how these modified histones affects the expression of genes.

First, it's important to note that histones are proteins that mostly contain positive charges. As a result of this, histones are able to associate with DNA very well, since DNA contains a negatively charged backbone. When histones associate with DNA in this way, the DNA molecule becomes tightly coiled around the histones. In this tightly bound conformation, the collection of DNA and proteins are referred to as hererochromatin. What's more is that when the DNA is tightly bound like this, the transcription machinery in the cell is physically blocked from associating with genes. Thus, gene expression is lowered.

Histone acetyltransferases are enzymes that attach acetyl groups to the positively charged lysine residues that are part of histones. Remember, the positive charge of these lysine residues is what allows the histones to associate with the DNA. When acetyl groups are added, the positive charge on these histones becomes neutralized. As a result, the histones are no longer able to associate with the DNA. What this means is that the transcription machinery in the cell is now able to physically access the genes, allowing gene expression to increase.

Example Question #53 : Nucleic Acid Synthesis

An inhibition of RNA polymerase III would directly affect which of the following processes?

Possible Answers:

Synthesis of DNA

Synthesis of mRNA

Synthesis of tRNA

Synthesis of protein

Synthesis of rRNA

Correct answer:

Synthesis of tRNA

Explanation:

RNA polymerase III catalyzes the synthesis of tRNA - RNA that is responsible for carrying amino acids during translation. So, synthesis of protein will be affected down the line, however the direct effect of an inhibition of RNA polymerase III would be the inability to create tRNA.

Example Question #51 : Nucleic Acid Synthesis

How does RNA polymerase know when to end transcription of a gene?

Possible Answers:

It reaches a poly A tail

It reaches an uncodeable segment of the DNA

It synthesizes a termination sequence

It reaches the TATA box

It reaches the Hogness box

Correct answer:

It synthesizes a termination sequence

Explanation:

RNA polymerase travels down DNA beginning at the promoter site (could be TATA box or Hogness box in eukaryotes). It reads the DNA and synthesizes mRNA along the way, until it reaches a point where it reads the DNA and synthesizes a termination sequence. This notifies the RNA polymerase that it should end transcription of the gene.

Example Question #52 : Nucleic Acid Synthesis

Spliceosomes must be able to recognize where to splice mRNA so that introns are correctly cut out. What sequence is nearly always conserved in introns to ensure proper splicing?

Possible Answers:

(Splice) GU----------purines--AG (splice)

(Splice) GU-------pyrimidine--AG (splice)

(Splice) AG-----------purines--GU (splice)

None of these

(Splice) AG----------pyrimidines--GU (splice)

Correct answer:

(Splice) GU-------pyrimidine--AG (splice)

Explanation:

Spliceosomes recognize the conserved sequence, GU, and splice just before those two nucleotides. They then continue onwards and when they recognize a pyrimidine followed by the nucleotides, AG, they splice again immediately after the AG. This is almost always conserved in introns to ensure proper splicing.

Example Question #54 : Nucleic Acid Synthesis

Which of the following is/are true regarding prokaryotic RNA polymerases?

I. RNA polymerase requires the sigma protein factor to initiate transcription.

II. Prokaryotes have multiple types of RNA polymerase.

III. RNA polymerase requires the rho protein factor to terminate transcription.

IV. Sigma protein is not required for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription in prokaryotes.

Possible Answers:

I and IV

I, II, and III

II, III, and IV

I and II

I and III

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

There are few differences between prokaryotes and eukaryotes in what concerns transcription. In prokaryotes there is only one RNA polymerase, while in eukaryotes there are three: I , II and III. In prokaryotes, both sigma factor and rho factor are required for transcription to occur, but not in eukaryotes. 

Example Question #1221 : Biochemistry

In mammals, the enzyme used to synthesize fatty acids is called mammalian fatty acid synthase. It has 7 components that all work together to synthesize a fatty acid chain. 

If the DH subunit of the enzyme is mutated and cannot catalyze its proper reaction, which functional group would you expect to see on the resulting carbon chain? 

Possible Answers:

Alkane

Hydrogen

Ketone

Alcohol

Alkene

Correct answer:

Alcohol

Explanation:

The DH subunit is a dehydratase, meaning it removes alcohol groups from carbon chains. If this subunit is mutated, the alcohol cannot be removed. 

Example Question #81 : Anabolic Pathways And Synthesis

Which coenzyme is common to reactions catalyzed by pyruvate dehydrogenase and β-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase?

Possible Answers:

Thiamine pyrophosphate

Lipoic acid

coenzyme A

Correct answer:

Explanation:

-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase catalyzes the interconversion of the ketone bodies acetoacetate and -hydroxybutyrate, which are transported out of liver cells into the blood to be used as fuel by the rest of the body, particularly during times of starvation. -hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase’s only coenzyme is . As for the other answers: the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex converts pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, the key connection between glycolysis and the citric acid cycle, and this process uses a number of co-factors, including , thiamine pyrophosphate, lipoamide (the protein-bound form of lipoic acid), and, of course, coenzyme A (to make acetyl-CoA). Pyruvate dehydrogenase uses  and  depending on the cell type.

Example Question #1 : Lipid Synthesis Enzymes

Malonyl-CoA is a potent inhibitor of carnitine palmitoyl transferase, which facilitates the movement of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation. This leads to decreased utilization of fatty acids for fuel. 

If we wanted to eliminate this effect in a targeted manner, which enzyme would we seek to inhibit?

Possible Answers:

Carnitine palmitoyl transferase

HMG-CoA-reductase

Pyruvate dehydrogenase

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase

Acyl-CoA dehydrogenase

Correct answer:

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase

Explanation:

Because acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACC) is directly responsible for synthesis of malonyl-CoA, inhibiting it would be the most targeted approach. Inhibiting acyl-CoA dehydrogenase or pyruvate dehydrogenase would decrease available acetyl-CoA to ACC by inhibiting beta-oxidation and conversion of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA, but this would have a large impact on other biosynthetic pathways as well, due to the ubiquity of acetyl-CoA.

Example Question #1 : Lipid Synthesis Enzymes

Which of the following is true about major lipoprotein metabolism pathways?

Possible Answers:

The exogenous pathway involves progressive transformation of very low density lipoproteins (VLDLs), synthesized by the liver, into low density lipoproteins (LDLs)

High density lipoprotein, HDL, transports cholesterol in tissues to the liver, where it is recognized the apolipoprotein B100 in hepatocytes

Macrophages absorb oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDLs), thus transforming themselves into foam cells, an indicator for plaque build-up in atherosclerosis

In the endogenous pathway, circulating chylomicrons are transformed into remnants by lipoprotein lipase (LPL)

Correct answer:

Macrophages absorb oxidized low density lipoproteins (LDLs), thus transforming themselves into foam cells, an indicator for plaque build-up in atherosclerosis

Explanation:

The endogenous, not the exogenous, pathway, involves the transformation of VDLDs into LDLs. Meanwhile, the exogenous, not the endogenous, pathway, involves transforming chylomicrons into remnants. The apolipoprotein in plasma (transporting cholesterol to the liver) which is the major component of HDL is A1, not B100. Macrophages do indeed oxidize LDLs and transform themselves into the foam cells which indicate atherosclerosis. This is one of the reasons that LDL cholesterol levels can indicate atherosclerosis (which is associated with increased risk of heart attack or stroke).

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors