Biochemistry : Catabolic Pathways and Metabolism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Glycolysis

Which of the following choices is responsible for the decarboxylation in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex?

Possible Answers:

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)

Lipoamide

FAD

CoA

Correct answer:

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP)

Explanation:

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex essentially carries out a two part reaction: a decarboxylation and an oxidation. All these choices play important roles in the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) is the only choice, however, that is responsible for the decarboxylation step. Lipoamide acts as transporter, transferring the substrate to a distant active site. FAD then reoxidizes lipoamide for the next substrate. CoA is important in producing the substrate.

Example Question #11 : Glycolysis

Which of the following enzymes is found in glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Aconitase

None of these enzymes are found in glycolysis

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase

Thiolase

Aldolase

Correct answer:

Aldolase

Explanation:

To see which of the enzymes in these answer choices may by in glycolysis, let's go through each one and look at their function.

Aldolase - This enzyme is indeed involved in glycolysis. It is responsible for the cleavage of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate into two products, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate.

Thiolase - This enzyme catalyzes the the reversible association of two acetyl-CoA molecules into acetoacetyl-CoA. This is an important part of the mevalonate pathway as well as beta oxidation and ketone body synthesis/degradation.

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase - This enzyme is important in gluconeogenesis, a metabolic pathway that runs counter to glycolysis. Although many of the enzymes found in glycolysis are also used in gluconeogenesis, this enzyme is one example of an exception because it bypasses one of the irreversible reactions from glycolysis.

Aconitase - This enzyme is found in the citric acid cycle. Its function is to convert citrate into its isomer, isocitrate.

Example Question #11 : Glycolysis

The enzyme hexokinase catalyzes the first step of glycolysis, and is crucial to initiating the process and preventing the initial substrate from easily traveling out of the cell (as its pre-reaction structure is membrane permeable). Specifically in the context of glycolysis, what are the names of hexokinase's substrate and product, respectively?

Possible Answers:

Glycogen, glycogen-6-phosphate

Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate

Glucose, fructose-6-phosphate

Glucose, ATP

Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, glucose-6-phosphate

Correct answer:

Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate

Explanation:

Hexokinase initiates the first step of glycolysis, which we know is the series of reactions by which glucose is processed to enter the citric acid cycle, and generate energy for the cell. So, in the case of glycolysis, glucose is the substrate of hexokinase. Based upon the name of the enzyme, we can infer that it phosphorylates a six-carbon molecule (which glucose is). By knowing the substrate is glucose, the correct product is glucose-6-phosphate, since its name indicates phosphorylation (addition of a phosphate group) to one of its carbons. Glycogen, fructose, and ATP are not involved in this first step of glycolysis. 

Example Question #12 : Carbohydrate Metabolism

Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step of glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Phosphofructokinase (PFK)

Hexokinase 

Citrate synthase 

Isocitrate dehydrogenase 

Pyruvate kinase

Correct answer:

Phosphofructokinase (PFK)

Explanation:

Hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, and PFK are regulatory enzymes in glycolysis, but PFK catalyzes the rate-limiting step (the phosphorylation of fructose-6-phosphate). Citrate synthase and isocitrate dehydrogenase are involved in the Krebs cycle, not glycolysis.

Example Question #12 : Glycolysis

Which one of these applies to the enzyme glucokinase?

Possible Answers:

It is the only kinase involved in glycolysis.

It specifically phosphorylates glucose, rather than other sugars.

It removes a phosphate group from glucose.

It phosphorylates many different sugars, including fructose and mannose.

It has a higher affinity for glucose than does hexokinase.

Correct answer:

It specifically phosphorylates glucose, rather than other sugars.

Explanation:

Glucokinase specifically phosphorylates the six-carbon sugar glucose. It is involved in glycolysis, but only in hepatocytes; hexokinase is the main enzyme that phosphorylates glucose during the first reaction of glycolysis. Rather, glucokinase's main role is to phosphorylate glucose to glucose-1-phosphate during the process of glycogen synthesis. The other kinases involved in glycolysis is phosphofructokinase. Fructose and mannose are not phosphorylated by glucokinase. Also, note that hexokinase has a higher affinity for glucose than does glucokinase.

Example Question #21 : Carbohydrate Metabolism

Which of the following is true of phosphofructokinase (PFK)?

Possible Answers:

Low levels of ATP inhibit PFK

High levels of ATP inhibit PFK

PFK catalyzes a reversible step in glycolysis

PFK is the first enzyme used glycolysis

PFK acts to remove a phosphate group from fructose-6-phosphate

Correct answer:

High levels of ATP inhibit PFK

Explanation:

Phosphofructokinase catalyzes the third step in glycolysis transforming fructose 6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.  It is an irreversible step, and it is one of the major regulatory points of glycolysis.  One way in which it controls the flow of glycolysis is that when there is a high level of ATP, PFK is inhibited.  This is because the ultimate goal of glycolysis is to make ATP.  Thus, if there is already a high level of ATP, glycolysis should slow down.

Example Question #21 : Carbohydrate Metabolism

Which of the following enzymes catalyzes an unfavorable step in glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Hexokinase

Aldolase

Phosphoglycerate kinase

Phosphoglycerate mutase

Enolase

Correct answer:

Hexokinase

Explanation:

Hexokinase catalyzes the first step of glycolysis, and this step requires the input of an ATP molecule. This step is unfavorable, but the steps catalyzed by the rest of the enzymes listed as answer choices are favorable.

Example Question #11 : Glycolysis

Which enzyme in glycolysis is responsible for the cleavage of a six-carbon molecule into two separate three-carbon molecules?

Possible Answers:

Enolase

Phosphofructokinase

Aldolase

Hexokinase

Phosphoglycerate kinase

Correct answer:

Aldolase

Explanation:

In the fourth step of glycolysis, the six-carbon molecule fructose-1,6-bisphosphate is cleaved into two separate three-carbon molecules: dihydroxyacetone phosphate and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. This is catalyzed by the enzyme, aldolase.

Example Question #11 : Glycolysis Enzymes

If a cell is completely lacking in the enzyme triose phosphate isomerase, which of the following is a possible result?

Possible Answers:

The energy investment phase of glycolysis will only require one ATP rather than two, per molecule of glucose

Glycolysis will double its production of NADH

Only one pyruvate molecule will be formed per molecule of glucose

Glycolysis will produce a net yield of four ATP molecules per molecule of glucose

Glycolysis will no longer be able to function to completion

Correct answer:

Only one pyruvate molecule will be formed per molecule of glucose

Explanation:

Triose phosphate isomerase is responsible for converting dihydroxyacetone phosphate into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. It is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate that continues on through glycolysis to ultimately form a pyruvate molecule. Therefore, if there is no triose phosphate isomerase, the dihydroxyacetone will be unable to continue through glycolysis. The normal net yield of 2 ATP will be halved, the production of NADH will be halved, and only 1 pyruvate molecule will be created. Glycolysis will still be able to function, and the energy investment phase will be unaffected.

Example Question #11 : Glycolysis

What is the role of phosphofructokinase-2 in glycolysis?

Possible Answers:

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-2,6-bisphosphate  to fructose-6-phosphate.

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose to fructose-6-phosphate.

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

Correct answer:

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

Explanation:

Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate. The product, fructose-2,6-bisphosphate activates phosphofructokinase-1, the rate limiting step in glycolysis. Phosphofructokinase-2 is regulated by insulin (activated) and glucagon (inhibited).

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