Biochemistry : Fundamental Macromolecules and Concepts

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

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Example Question #21 : Biological Energetics

A drug has a pKa of 3.3. If the pH in the stomach is 1.5 and the pH in the small intestine is 6.0, where will more of the drug be absorbed? Why?

Possible Answers:

The intestines because the drug will be less polar and will be able to pass through the membrane more easily.

The stomach because the lower pH will make the drug more hydrophilic so that it can cross cellular membranes more easily.

The stomach because the drug will be less polar and will be able to pass through the membrane more easily.

The intestines because the higher pH will make the drug more hydrophobic so that it can cross cellular membranes more easily.

The drug will absorb equally in both areas because pH does not effect bioavailability.

Correct answer:

The stomach because the drug will be less polar and will be able to pass through the membrane more easily.

Explanation:

The stomach: The lower pH will result in the drug being in the neutral form, and this less polar form will be able to pass through the membrane more easily and absorbed into the blood stream.

Example Question #1 : Negative Feedback

The following is a hypothetical metabolic pathway:

Which of the following is an example of negative feedback?

Possible Answers:

Product D inhibits the formation of product B

Product B activates the formation of product D

Product D activates the formation of product B

Product B inhibits the formation of product D

Correct answer:

Product D inhibits the formation of product B

Explanation:

Remember that negative feedback means the production of a metabolite will prevent the formation of either itself or any other metabolite preceding it. Product D inhibiting the formation of product B is the only choice that satisfies the definition of negative feedback. 

Example Question #2 : Negative Feedback

Which of the following physiological processes is not an example of negative feedback?

Possible Answers:

The formation of a blood clot at a site of injury in response to tissue damage

The secretion of insulin by the pancreas in response to high blood sugar

The secretion of renin by the kidneys in response to low blood pressure

The down-regulation of dopamine receptors on the membrane of a post-synaptic neuron in response to elevated levels of dopamine

The secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide by the atria of the heart in response to high blood pressure

Correct answer:

The formation of a blood clot at a site of injury in response to tissue damage

Explanation:

To answer this question, we'll need to take a look at all of the answer choices and see which one of them does not display feedback inhibition.

Generally speaking, negative feedback mechanisms help ensure that a homeostatic set point will be maintained. Thus, negative feedback can be viewed as a process that helps to maintain an equilibrium level. In other words, when things begin to deviate away from a set point, negative feedback helps shift things back to that set point.

When blood pressure is low, one of the consequences of this is that the kidneys begin to decrease the rate at which they filter the blood. Because the vasculature of the kidneys is very sensitive to even tiny changes in its filtration rate, it is well poised to detect and alter blood pressure. Upon sensing a reduced filtration rate, the kidneys increase their production of renin. This enzyme goes on to initiate a chain of events that ultimately result in increased blood pressure. This heightened blood pressure, in turn, reduces the kidneys' release of renin. Thus, this is an example of negative feedback.

Conversely, when blood pressure is too high, this can put increased stress on the walls of the heart. When the walls become slightly more distended and stretched due to increased pressure, the atria can release a compound known as atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). This peptide then goes on to affect several other physiological events that finally culminate in a decrease in blood pressure. The reduced pressure, in turn, causes the heart to turn down its secretion of ANP. Consequently, this is also an example of negative feedback.

Levels of sugar in the blood also need to be regulated, as having too low or too high of a concentration can have many adverse consequences. As expected after eating a meal, blood sugar levels rise. In order to ensure homeostasis, the pancreas increases its production of insulin, a hormone that enables many cells to take up glucose across their plasma membrane, which cause a reduction in blood sugar levels. Therefore, the secretion of insulin by the pancreas is yet another example of negative feedback.

We can also see negative feedback at the molecular level when considering the interaction of neurotransmitters with their receptors. In this hypothetical example, we're told that elevated levels of dopamine have caused down-regulation in dopamine receptors. What this essentially means is that because there has been so much dopamine hanging out near the post-synaptic membrane, the cell has been constantly affected by the presence of all that dopamine. In response, the cell has decided to turn down its production of dopamine receptors. This is a process that happens inside the cell, where the action of certain genes results in the synthesis of dopamine receptors that are eventually deposited in the cell membrane. By manufacturing less dopamine receptors, the cell will have a reduced capacity for responding to all that dopamine that's been outside of the cell. Thus, this is certainly an example of negative feedback.

Lastly, let's take a look at blood clotting. The blood contains a large variety of clotting factors. However, in the absence of tissue damage, there are regulatory mechanisms that keep these clotting factors inactivated. This is important, because if these clotting factors were able to from clots, unimpeded by any kind of regulation, the blood would end up clotting too much and thus the function of the circulatory system to carry nutrients and wastes throughout the body would be compromised. Under normal physiological conditions (meaning in the absence of any pathology or disease), blood clotting will only happen at sites of cell or tissue damage. Once activated by chemicals and other factors that are associated with injury, clotting factors begin to initiate an extraordinarily complex cascade that culminates in the formation of a clot. One such compound, known as fibrinogen, becomes converted into its active form, fibrin. Multiple fibrin molecules are then able to cross-link to help form the clot. As more and more clotting factors and fibrin molecules are assembled and assimilated, the result is that more and more clotting factors are recruited to the site of injury to help ensure that a clot forms. Although there aren't too many examples of positive feedback in biochemistry, this is one that stands out.

Example Question #71 : Homeostasis And The Biological Environment

Which biological process is not regulated by negative feedback?

Possible Answers:

Thermoregulation

Allosteric control of enzymes

Blood sugar regulation

Blood pH regulation

Wound healing

Correct answer:

Wound healing

Explanation:

The answer is "wound healing." In negative feedback systems, the product of the process will inhibit the process when it reaches a certain level. This is true whether that product is the actual product of an enzymatic reaction, or just a change in body temperature, blood sugar levels, or blood pH. This is because all of those processes are working to stay at a fairly precise level to maintain homeostasis. Wound healing, however, involves positive feedback. Platelets attract more platelets and induce other factors in the healing response.

Example Question #1 : Other Homeostatic Conditions

There are at least four types of glucose transporter in the body. GLUT1 and GLUT3 are located in most tissues including the brain and the red blood cells. These glucose transporters rapidly take up glucose from the blood but have the lowest  value. GLUT2 is commonly found in the liver and the pancreas. GLUT2 has a lower affinity for glucose but has the highest  value. GLUT4 is common in skeletal tissues and in adipose tissues. This transporter is normally not active for uptake unless stimulated by insulin or during exercise.  

In patients with diabetes mellitus type II, one of the best form of treatment is exercise. Which of the following statements is/are supportive for exercise as a potential treatment for type II diabetes? 

I. Exercise activates the GLUT4 transporter

II. Exercise activates the GLUT1 receptor

III. Exercise allows the skeletal muscles to uptake glucose from circulation without the need for insulin

Possible Answers:

I and III

II only

III only

I only

I, II, and III

Correct answer:

I and III

Explanation:

Diabetes mellitus type II is when the cells do not uptake glucose from the blood in the presence of insulin. Exercise allows the activation of GLUT4, which results in glucose uptake from the blood without the need of insulin.

Example Question #231 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

The GLUT1 transporter that regulates glucose uptake in red blood cells and the central nervous system is an example of __________.

Possible Answers:

mediated transport

primary active transport

simple diffusion

secondary active transport

Correct answer:

mediated transport

Explanation:

The GLUT1 transporter is a uniport member of the major facilitator superfamily. Glucose flux varies depending on glucose concentration as the transporter approaches maximum saturation. This, along with competitive inhibition, indicates mediated transport in GLUT1.

Example Question #3 : Other Homeostatic Conditions

What conformational change is responsible for converting hemoglobin from its tense (T) state to its relaxed (R) state upon binding oxygen molecules? 

Possible Answers:

The oxygen molecule is converted to water and the energy is used to convert between the two configurations

Two ionic bonds are broken after binding each oxygen molecule, allowing the iron atom of the heme group to align in a progressively more planar fashion with its surrounding protoporphyrin ring 

Two ionic bonds are broken after binding each oxygen molecule, allowing the iron atom of the heme group to align in a progressively more non-planar fashion with its surrounding protoporphyrin ring 

Two ionic bonds are created after binding each oxygen molecule, allowing the iron atom of the heme group to align in a progressively more planar fashion with its surrounding protoporphyrin ring 

Two ionic bonds are created after binding each oxygen molecule, allowing the iron atom of the heme group to align in a progressively more non-planar fashion with its surrounding protoporphyrin ring 

Correct answer:

Two ionic bonds are broken after binding each oxygen molecule, allowing the iron atom of the heme group to align in a progressively more planar fashion with its surrounding protoporphyrin ring 

Explanation:

Hemoglobin exhibits cooperative binding, so each oxygen atom which binds allows the following one to bind with more ease (for a maximum of four). Hemoglobin unbound is initially in the tense (T) state, which contains 8 ionic bonds. These bonds cause the irons atom of the heme groups to be relatively non-planar with their surrounding protoporphyrin rings, which is less stable than them being planar. Each oxygen which binds causes 2 of these ionic bonds to break, allowing the iron atom to become more and more planar upon binding more oxygens. By the time four oxygens are bound, all 8 bonds have been broken and the hemoglobin is in its fully relaxed state, with the iron atoms stably planar with their rings.

Example Question #2 : Other Homeostatic Conditions

What is a zymogen?

Possible Answers:

An antibody used to fight infection

An enzyme that is secreted in active form and undergoes modification in order to become inactivated

Any protein secreted by the pancreas

A hormone responsible for controlling other hormone levels

An enzyme that is secreted in inactive form and requires modification in order to become activated

Correct answer:

An enzyme that is secreted in inactive form and requires modification in order to become activated

Explanation:

A zymogen is a protein which is released as an inactive precursor and then requires some kind of modification (such as cleavage, hydrolysis, etc.) to become activated. An example is pepsinogen, which is released by chief cells in the stomach in an inactive form, which is then activated to become pepsin by hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Pepsin catalyzes breakdown of consumed proteins. All of the other answers are incorrect.

Example Question #232 : Fundamental Macromolecules And Concepts

Which one of the following is a characteristic of low insulin levels? 

Possible Answers:

Increased formation of 3-hydroxybutyrate

Decreased action of hormone-sensitive lipase

Decreased glycogenolysis

Increased glycogen synthesis

Correct answer:

Increased formation of 3-hydroxybutyrate

Explanation:

3-hydroxybutyrate is a ketone body, which accumulates as a result of an increase of glucagon. Increased glycogen synthesis, decreased glycogenolysis, and action of hormone-sensitive lipase are all results of an increase in insulin levels. 

Example Question #4 : Other Homeostatic Conditions

What direction is the flow of water when a cell is in a hypertonic solution?

Possible Answers:

The net flow of water will be from the cell to the environment, and this will be passive and require no energy.

The net flow of water will be from the environment into the cell, and this will be passive requiring no energy.

The net flow of water will be from the cell to the environment, and this will be active and require energy.

The net flow of water will be neither in or out of the cell.

The net flow of water will be from the environment into the cell, this will be active requiring energy.

Correct answer:

The net flow of water will be from the cell to the environment, and this will be passive and require no energy.

Explanation:

In a hypertonic solution, the net flow of water will be from the cell into the environment, the process will cause the cell to lose water and shrink. This will be passive requiring no energy. In plant cells it is called plasmolysis, and in animal cells it is called crenation.

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