Biochemistry : Biochemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #441 : Biochemistry

Which of the following are considered aromatic amino acids?

I. Trp

II. Cys

III. Phe

IV. Tyr

Possible Answers:

I, II, and IV

I, II, and III

I, II, III, and IV

I, and III

I, III, and IV

Correct answer:

I, III, and IV

Explanation:

Aromatic amino acids contain side chains with aromatic rings. Aromatic rings have alternating single and double bonds which form a conjugated pi system. The amino acids tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine contain aromatic ring systems. The amino acid cysteine does not have a side chain with a ring system. Instead it has a serine side chain with a sulfur in place of an oxygen.

Example Question #21 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Disulfide bonds can form between the thiol groups of which amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Glycine

Asparagine

Histidine

Cysteine

Methionine

Correct answer:

Cysteine

Explanation:

Only cysteine has a side chain with a thiol group. A thiol group is a sulfur with a bonded hydrogen. Through an oxidation reaction, the sulfurs from two different cysteine amino acids can bond together to form a disulfide bridge. Methionine, the other sulfur containing amino acid, is incapable of forming disulfide bridges in biological systems.

Example Question #22 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following are common protein secondary structure elements?

I. Alpha helix

II. Beta sheet

III. Greek key

IV. Rossman fold

Possible Answers:

I and II

I only

I, II, III, and IV

I, II, and IV

I, II, and III

Correct answer:

I and II

Explanation:

Alpha-helices, beta-sheets, and less regular turns, loops, and coils are all of the secondary structure elements. Greek keys and Rossman folds are examples of structural motifs that are comprised of specifically arranged secondary structure elements.

Example Question #51 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

Protein folding

__________ proteins assist other proteins to fold properly and help prevent the improper aggregation of polypeptide chains into non-functional units.

Possible Answers:

Kinase

Protease

Phosphatase

Hydrolase

Chaperone

Correct answer:

Chaperone

Explanation:

Chaperone proteins assist in proper protein folding and prevent aggregate formation. Kinases add phosphate groups to target proteins, phosphatases remove them, and proteases are involved in protein degradation and recycling. Hydrolases use water to facilitate the breakage of a bond.

Example Question #442 : Biochemistry

What are the two fundamental functional groups that define a molecule as an amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Amide group and ketone group

Amine group and carboxylic acid group

Thiol group and aldehyde group

Thiol group and carboxylic acid group

Amine group and nitric acid group

Correct answer:

Amine group and carboxylic acid group

Explanation:

All amino acids have the following main components: carbon backbone, an amine group, a carboxylic acid group, and a specific side chain to further define the particular amino acids. The other groups listed can serve as functional groups in other molecules, but an amino acid, at its baseline, is defined a a molecule with an amine and a carboxylic acid group. 

Example Question #22 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following amino acids have polar, uncharged side chains?

Possible Answers:

Arginine and lysine

Cysteine and glycine

Serine and asparagine

Tyrosine and tryptophan

Alanine and valine

Correct answer:

Serine and asparagine

Explanation:

Serine's R-chain contains a hydroxyl group , which is polar but uncharged, and cysteine's side chain contains a thiol (sulfhydryl)  R-group which is also polar but uncharged. Each of the the other answers contain amino acids that have side groups with different functional properties, but only serine and cysteine can be classified as polar and uncharged. 

Example Question #443 : Biochemistry

Which of the following is true about cyclic amino acids?

Possible Answers:

One of the properties of amino acid aromatic rings is the ability to absorb ultraviolet light

Phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine all have a non-aromatic cyclical structure

Proline has an aromatic ring on its chain

Humans must consume proline in their diet. That is because hydroxyproline, which is used in collagen synthesis, is fabricated from proline

Correct answer:

One of the properties of amino acid aromatic rings is the ability to absorb ultraviolet light

Explanation:

Proline does not have an aromatic ring, and its ring is incorporated into its backbone. The human body is able to manufacture it, and hence it is not an essential amino acid which humans must consume. Hydroxyproline is, indeed, fabricated from proline, and is used in collagen synthesis. Phenylalanine, tryptophan, and tyrosine all have an aromatic cyclical structure. All aromatic rings of amino acids absorb ultraviolet light, including the imidazole ring of histidine, which absorbs in the lower UV range more than some amino acids.

Example Question #24 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following is true about amino acid synthesis?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Cysteine is a natural precursor of histidine

Aspartate is a natural precursor of arginine

Arginine is a natural precursor of glutamate

Correct answer:

None of these

Explanation:

Glutamate, not aspartate, is a natural precursor of arginine (and not vice versa). The natural precursor for histidine is a ribose derivative, and cysteine can be produced from serine or via methionine degradation.

Example Question #443 : Biochemistry

The amino acid glycine is a neutral amino acid. Its alpha-carboxyl group has a pKa of 2.34 and its alpha-amino group has a pKa of 9.6. What is the pI of glycine?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

For this question, we're provided with the pKa values of the alpha-carboxyl and alpha-amino groups of glycine. We're then asked to determine the pI value for glycine.

For any given amino acid, the pI value describes that amino acid's isoelectric point. This number represents the pH value where the amino acid will exist predominately as a zwitterion with a net charge of zero. For amino acids that don't have any ionizable R-groups, the pI value is simply the average of the pKa values of the alpha-amino and alpha-carboxyl groups.

For glycine, the pI value is:

Example Question #23 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

The pKa of the R-group found in glutamic acid is approximately 4.07. At what pH must a solution be in order for 75% of the glutamic acid side chain to be in the protonated form?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

In this question, we are given information concerning the acidity of glutamic acid's side chain, which is equal to . We're then asked to determine what pH is necessary in order for  to be in the acidic, protonated form.

For starters, we'll need to use the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation, which relates the pH of a solution to the pKa of an acid as well as to the relative amounts of the acidic and basic forms of the compound in question.

From the question stem, we're given the pKa. Moreover, we're told that the concentration of the acidic form of the R-group will be , or . Therefore, the concentration of the basic form of the R-group must be . Plugging these values into the above equation allows us to solve for pH.

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