Biochemistry : Biochemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #47 : Macromolecule Fundamentals

Which type of DNA mutation is characterized by a base change that results in an early stop codon instead of the intended amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Nonsense mutation

Missense mutation

Frameshift mutation

Silent mutation

Correct answer:

Nonsense mutation

Explanation:

Stop the nonsense! When a base change occurs but results in the same amino acid being read, this is considered a silent mutation. When a base change results into a different amino acid (concervative-new amino acid is similar in chemical structure), this is a missense mutation. When a Frame shift mutation occurs, the change results in misreading of all nucleotides downstream, usually resulting in a nonfunctional protein. 

Example Question #51 : Amino Acids And Proteins

At a physiological pH of 3, what is the net charge on glutamate (relevant  values given)?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Glutamate is an acidic amino acid. At a pH below 2.2 (acidic conditions), the side chain, the amino group, and the carboxyl backbone would all be protonated (+1 net charge). At a pH above 9.7 (basic conditions), all of those groups would be deprotonated (negative 2 net charge).  

In the situation we are given, the pH is 3, which is above the , but below the . The carboxyl group on the backbone is therefore deprotonated, but not the carboxyl side chain. The amino backbone also remains protonated in these still acidic conditions. Overall, the net charge must then be zero.

To simplify this problem, remember that at any pH above the  of a given group (basic conditions), that group will be deprotonated. On the other hand, at any pH below the  of a given group (acid conditions), that group will be protonated.

Example Question #52 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following amino acids contains sulfur?

Possible Answers:

Tyrosine

Glutamine

Methionine 

Phenylalanine

Asparagine

Correct answer:

Methionine 

Explanation:

Methionine and cysteine are the only amino acids that contain sulfur. 

Example Question #51 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Disulfide bridges are formed between __________.

Possible Answers:

two methionine amino acids

a cysteine and an asparagine amino acid

two asparagine amino acids

two cysteine amino acids

a methionine and a cysteine amino acid

Correct answer:

two cysteine amino acids

Explanation:

Only two cysteine amino acids can come together to form a disulfide bridge. This disulfide bridge is a covalent bond. Disulfide bridges are a component of tertiary structure in proteins. As a side note, the name of a cysteine amino acid changes to cystine after a disulfide bridge is formed. 

Example Question #81 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

Which of the following amino acids is nonpolar?

Possible Answers:

Cysteine

Threonine

Serine

Glycine

Asparagine

Correct answer:

Glycine

Explanation:

Only glycine is nonpolar. The rest of the answer choices are polar. Remember that being nonpolar implies that the substance is hydrophobic and, hence, insoluble in water. Besides methionine, you will notice that the rest of the nonpolar and nonaromatic amino acids have R-groups composed solely of carbon and hydrogen. Polarity of amino acids is quite important when looking at the tertiary, or three dimensional, structure of a protein. 

Example Question #53 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following amino acids is aromatic?

Possible Answers:

Serine

Tyrosine

Threonine

Histidine

Proline

Correct answer:

Tyrosine

Explanation:

There are only three aromatic amino acids. They are phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. Histidine has a positively charged R-group. Proline is a nonpolar amino acid. Serine is a polar amino acid. Threonine is a polar amino acid. 

Example Question #82 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

Which of the following is a false statement about amino acids?

Possible Answers:

Amino acids are joined together with peptide bonds.

Glycine is an achiral amino acid.

There are three aromatic amino acids.

The  value of the amino group is around 2 for all amino acids.

All amino acids in biological proteins are L stereoisomers. 

Correct answer:

The  value of the amino group is around 2 for all amino acids.

Explanation:

The  value of the amino groups in amino acids are around 9. On the other hand, the  value of the carboxyl groups of amino acids are around 2. All biologically relevant amino acids are indeed found only in the L stereoisomer formation. There are three aromatic amino acids: phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan. All amino acids are joined together with a planar, rigid peptide bond. Glycine is the only achiral amino acid. This is due to the hydrogen found in the R-group. 

Example Question #55 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which level of protein structure is described by the association of multiple subunits into a functional multimeric protein?

Possible Answers:

0 degree structure

Primary Structure

Tertiary Structure

Quarternary structure

Secondary Structure

Correct answer:

Quarternary structure

Explanation:

Quarternary structure is the association of multiple polypeptide chains into a functional protein. Not all proteins have this level of protein structure. Subunits within the quarternary structure are held together by noncovalent bonds and disulfide bonds.

Example Question #51 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which groups on a pair of amino acids must react to form a peptide bond?

Possible Answers:

The amino group of one and the carboxyl group of another

Both amino groups

The R-group of one and the amino group of the other

Both carboxyl groups

Correct answer:

The amino group of one and the carboxyl group of another

Explanation:

A peptide bond is the chemical bond formed between two amino acids to create a polypeptide. The carboxyl group of one amino acid reacts with the amino group of the other amino acid, releasing a molecule of water. This is known as a dehydration reaction.

Example Question #57 : Amino Acids And Proteins

Which of the following can be stored for future use in the human body?

Possible Answers:

Fatty acids only

Amino acids and glucose

Fatty acids, glucose, and amino acids

Fatty acids and glucose

Glucose only

Correct answer:

Fatty acids and glucose

Explanation:

Glucose can be stored as glycogen, mostly in the liver, and fatty acids are stored in adipose cells. Amino acids, though, can not be stored for future anabolic use in the human body. Therefore, any time there is an excess of amino acids, they are broken down into their constituent parts so that they may be recycled into other molecules.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors