Biochemistry : Fundamental Macromolecules and Concepts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

Which of the following is true regarding the polysaccharides glycogen and cellulose? 

Possible Answers:

Both molecules involve a glycosidic bond between the 1-carbon and the 6-carbon

Humans can digest glycogen because it has beta glycosidic bonds

Cellulose can be found as either amylose or amylopectin

Only glycogen molecules have branching regions

Correct answer:

Only glycogen molecules have branching regions

Explanation:

Just like starch, glycogen and cellulose are complex carbohydrates that contain glucose molecules joined via glycosidic bonds. Both carbohydrates contain (1,4) glycosidic bonds. This means that the bond occurs between the 1-carbon of one glucose and the 4-carbon of the other glucose. Glycogen contains -(1,4) glycosidic bonds whereas cellulose contains -(1,4) bonds.

In addition, glycogen molecules contain -(1,6 ) glycosidic bonds. These bonds are typically found in branch points along the main chain of glucose molecules. Cellulose molecules do not have branching and, therefore, do not have -(1,6) glycosidic bonds.

As mentioned, glycogen contains  bonds. Humans have enzymes capable of digesting complex carbohydrates with  linkages; therefore, only glycogen and starch (which also has  linkages) can be digested by humans. Amylin and amylopectin are forms of starch, not cellulose. 

Example Question #3 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

A researcher is analyzing a compound. He finds that it has the same structure as glucose, but has an altered configuration at one of the stereogenic centers. What can the researcher conclude about the compound?

I. It is an epimer of glucose

II. It is an aldose

III. It could be fructose

Possible Answers:

I and II

I only

III only

II only

Correct answer:

I and II

Explanation:

The question states that the molecule has the same structure as glucose, except at one stereogenic center. Recall that epimers are structural isomers that differ at one stereogenic center; therefore, glucose and the compound are epimers. The epimers of glucose include galactose and mannose. All three molecules have a molecular formula of .

Recall that aldoses are carbohydrates that have an aldehyde group at one of the carbons. Glucose and all of its epimers have an aldehyde group at the first carbon; therefore, this compound is an aldose.

Fructose is a ketose that has a ketone group in the second carbon. Recall that aldehydes and ketones have carbonyl groups; therefore, they are not considered stereogenic centers (to be a stereogenic center you need to have four distinct functional groups on a carbon). Since fructose differs from glucose at a non-stereogenic center, this molecule cannot be fructose. Note that fructose also has a different molecular formula (). 

Example Question #511 : Biochemistry

Which of the following carbohydrates is most likely to be found in an open chain?

Possible Answers:

A hexose

A pentose

A triose

A heptose

Correct answer:

A triose

Explanation:

Only 1% of all sugars that have five or more carbons are found in an open chain, thus any sugar that has five or more carbons will be most likely found in its cyclic form. Of the four choices a triose is the only one that has less that five carbons (it has three) the others have 5 (pentose), 6 (hexose), and 7 (heptose).

Example Question #5 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

If a monosaccharide has a single carbonyl group situated between two carbon atoms, which of the following best describes that monosaccharide's classification?

Possible Answers:

Ketose

Aldohexose

Ribose

Aldose

Glucose

Correct answer:

Ketose

Explanation:

Given no other information about how many carbons are in the chain, any monosaccharide with a carbonyl group on a carbon between two others and not at the terminal carbon of the chain is called a ketose. Aldoses are when the carbonyl group is at the end of the chain. Ribose and aldohexose are incorrect because 1) ribose is too specific, we do not know anything about the structure and ribose indicates a specific monosaccharide, and 2) aldohexose has an aldehyde group, not a ketone group. 

Example Question #123 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

What is a furanose?

Possible Answers:

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

A six-carbon open-chain sugar

A five-carbon open chain sugar

Correct answer:

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclical structure

Explanation:

A furanose is defined as a cyclical sugar structure with a five-membered ring. By contrast, a pyranose is a cyclical sugar structure with a six-membered ring.

Example Question #122 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

What two sugars is lactose composed of?

Possible Answers:

Glucose and galactose

Glucose and fructose

Glucose and sucrose

Glucose and glucose

Galactose and sucrose

Correct answer:

Glucose and galactose

Explanation:

Three common simple sugars are: glucose, fructose, and galactose. Combining these simple sugars leads to the formation of more complex sugar molecules. Glucose and fructose make sucrose. Glucose and galactose make lactose. Two glucose molecules make maltose. 

Example Question #3 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What is a pyranose?

Possible Answers:

A sugar that contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

A five-carbon open-chain sugar

A six-carbon open-chain sugar

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

Correct answer:

A sugar that contains a six-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure

Explanation:

A pyranose is a carbohydrate that includes a ring. It is not an open-chain carbohydrate. Additionally, this term is reserved for six-membered, not five-membered carbohydrate ring structures. A sugar which contains a five-membered ring as part of its cyclic structure is called a furanose.

Example Question #1 : Monosaccharides And Carbohydrates

What type of process is occurring as carbohydrates are broken down to carbon dioxide?

Possible Answers:

Reduction

Elimination

Oxidation

Substitution

Proteolysis

Correct answer:

Oxidation

Explanation:

As carbohydrates are broken down, they are oxidized to carbon dioxide . This process, cellular respiration, begins during glycolysis. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation, and would indicate a loss of oxygen. Elimination refers to the removal of a functional group, which does not occur during this process. In substitution, one functional group is replaced with another, which also does not accurately describe this process. Finally, proteolysis refers to the breakdown of proteins, not carbohydrates.

Example Question #511 : Biochemistry

Most mammals are unable to metabolize which of the following disaccharides?

Possible Answers:

Maltose and sucrose

Lactose only

Sucrose only

Cellobiose only

Cellobiose and lactose

Correct answer:

Cellobiose and lactose

Explanation:

Most mammals are unable to digest beta glycosidic bonds, such as the bonds in cellobiose and lactose. Maltose and sucrose both are connected via alpha glycosidic bonds, and can be digested by mammals.

Note: Most mammals are unable to digest lactose after infancy. It is only through a genetic mutation that many humans now are able to ingest lactose well into adulthood.

Example Question #513 : Biochemistry

What is a lactone?

Possible Answers:

A cyclic ketone

A cyclic ether

A cyclic alcohol

A cyclic ester

Correct answer:

A cyclic ester

Explanation:

This is a fact question. A lactone is a cyclic ester, which is a ring of two or more carbon atoms and one oxygen atom with a ketone at one of the carbons adjacent to the other oxygen. Lactones are usually formed via a reaction of a carboxylic acid with a hydroxyl group or halogen atom present in the same molecule.

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