Biochemistry : Identification by Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #19 : Identifying Specific Carbohydrate Structures

Identify the carbohydrate class of the given molecule.

D ribose

Possible Answers:

Aldoquintos

Aldopentose

Ketohexose

Ketopentose

Aldohexose

Correct answer:

Aldopentose

Explanation:

The structure is an aldopentose. Aldo- refers to the aldehyde at the first carbon and pentose refers to a carbohydrate with five carbons.

Example Question #21 : Identifying Specific Carbohydrate Structures

Identify the carbohydrate class of the given molecule.

D ribulose

Possible Answers:

Aldopentose

Ketoquintos

Ketohexose

Ketopentose

Aldohexose

Correct answer:

Ketopentose

Explanation:

The structure is a ketopentose. Keto- refers to the ketone at the second carbon and pentose refers to a carbohydrate with five carbons.

Example Question #22 : Identifying Specific Carbohydrate Structures

Identify the given structure.

D glucose ring

Possible Answers:

L-galactose

D-glucose

L-glucose

D-fructose

D-galactose

Correct answer:

D-glucose

Explanation:

This ring structure is of D-glucose. The hydroxyl group on the first carbon (the carbon to the bottom right of the oxygenin the ring) can face either down (the alpha conformation) or up (the beta conformation). Note that the beta conformer is more thermodynamically stable since all the hydroxyl groups on the ring would be in the equitorial position, thus minimizing steric hinderance and intramolecular electrostatic repulsion.

Example Question #23 : Identifying Specific Carbohydrate Structures

Identify the given structure.

D fructose ring

Possible Answers:

D-galactose

D-glucose

D-fructose

D-mannose

D-ribose

Correct answer:

D-fructose

Explanation:

This is the ring/cyclic structure of D-fructose.

Example Question #301 : Biochemistry

Which of the following is the correct structure of a disaccharide?

Possible Answers:

Maltose = sucrose + fructose

Lactose = galactose + galactose

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Lactose = galactose + fructose

Sucrose = glucose + glucose

Correct answer:

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Explanation:

The correct structures of the disaccharides are:

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Sucrose = glucose + fructose

Lactose = glucose + galactose

Example Question #31 : Identification By Structure

Which amino acid does this structure represent?

Glutamate

Possible Answers:

Arginine

Aspartate

Glutamine

Glutamate

Asparagine

Correct answer:

Glutamate

Explanation:

The amino acid's R group is composed of an ethyl group, followed by a carboxylate group, and therefore represents glutamate.

Example Question #92 : Identifying Biochemical Molecules

Which amino acid does this structure represent?

Methionine

Possible Answers:

A

M

T

S

Y

Correct answer:

M

Explanation:

The amino acid's chiral carbon is connected to two methyl groups followed, by a sulfur, and finally another methyl group. Therefore, the amino acid is methionine (M).

Example Question #32 : Identification By Structure

The amino acid phenylalanine is pictured. If a hydroxyl group was added to the carbon in the red box, which amino acid would the new molecule most closely resemble?

Phenylalanine

Possible Answers:

Glysine

Arginine

Lysine

Tyrosine

Alanine

Correct answer:

Tyrosine

Explanation:

The structure would most closely resembe tyrosine (pictured). 

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Example Question #34 : Identification By Structure

If the phenyl group in the pictured molecule were removed, what amino acid would the new structure most closely resemble? 

Phenylalanine

Possible Answers:

Tyrosine

Phenylalanine

Alanine

Glycine

Valine

Correct answer:

Alanine

Explanation:

Alanine is the amino acid that would be formed by removing the phenyl group from phenylalanine (the pictured molecule).

Example Question #1 : Identifying Specific Protein Structures

If the amide group of glutamine (pictured here) was removed and a hydroxyl group was added to the carbon bound to the alpha carbon of the resulting structure, what amino acid would be formed?

Glutamine

Possible Answers:

Methionine

Valine

Cysteine

Tyrosine

Threonine

Correct answer:

Threonine

Explanation:

Threonine (pictured here) would be formed.

 

Threonine

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