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Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Glycolysis Enzymes
Which of the following enzymes is found in glycolysis?
Aldolase
Aconitase
Thiolase
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase
None of these enzymes are found in glycolysis
Aldolase
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 Enzymes
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?
Glucose, ATP
Glycogen, glycogen-6-phosphate
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate, glucose-6-phosphate
Glucose, fructose-6-phosphate
Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate
Glucose, glucose-6-phosphate
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 #11 : Glycolysis Enzymes
Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step of glycolysis?
Citrate synthase
Phosphofructokinase (PFK)
Pyruvate kinase
Hexokinase
Isocitrate dehydrogenase
Phosphofructokinase (PFK)
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 #21 : Carbohydrate Metabolism
Which one of these applies to the enzyme glucokinase?
It is the only kinase involved in glycolysis.
It removes a phosphate group from glucose.
It phosphorylates many different sugars, including fructose and mannose.
It specifically phosphorylates glucose, rather than other sugars.
It has a higher affinity for glucose than does hexokinase.
It specifically phosphorylates glucose, rather than other sugars.
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)?
PFK acts to remove a phosphate group from fructose-6-phosphate
PFK catalyzes a reversible step in glycolysis
Low levels of ATP inhibit PFK
High levels of ATP inhibit PFK
PFK is the first enzyme used glycolysis
High levels of ATP inhibit PFK
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?
Hexokinase
Aldolase
Phosphoglycerate kinase
Phosphoglycerate mutase
Enolase
Hexokinase
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 #14 : Glycolysis Enzymes
Which enzyme in glycolysis is responsible for the cleavage of a six-carbon molecule into two separate three-carbon molecules?
Enolase
Phosphofructokinase
Phosphoglycerate kinase
Aldolase
Hexokinase
Aldolase
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 #14 : Glycolysis Enzymes
If a cell is completely lacking in the enzyme triose phosphate isomerase, which of the following is a possible result?
Only one pyruvate molecule will be formed per molecule of glucose
Glycolysis will double its production of NADH
Glycolysis will no longer be able to function to completion
Glycolysis will produce a net yield of four ATP molecules per molecule of glucose
The energy investment phase of glycolysis will only require one ATP rather than two, per molecule of glucose
Only one pyruvate molecule will be formed per molecule of glucose
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 #15 : Glycolysis Enzymes
What is the role of phosphofructokinase-2 in glycolysis?
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-2,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate.
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-1,6-bisphosphate.
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose to fructose-6-phosphate.
Phosphofructokinase-2 converts fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.
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).