Biochemistry : Identification by Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #51 : Identification By Structure

Which of the following structures is cysteine?

Possible Answers:

Asparagine

Methionine

Alanine

Threonine

Cysteine

Correct answer:

Cysteine

Explanation:

Cysteine is a polar amino acid with an R-group of . It is one of two amino acids with a sulfur in the R-group, the other is methionine. 

Example Question #101 : Identifying Biochemical Molecules

Which of the following is an acidic amino acid?

Possible Answers:

Arginine

Asparagine

Methionine

Threonine

Aspartic acid

Correct answer:

Aspartic acid

Explanation:

An acidic amino acid must have a carboxyl moiety  in its R-group. Because all amino acids contain a carboxyl moiety on the alpha carbon, that acidic group does not determine whether or not the amino acid is considered acidic.

Example Question #51 : Identification By Structure

Which of the following statements best describes high-density lipoproteins as compared to other lipoproteins?

Possible Answers:

They have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters

They have the highest protein content

They have more triglycerides than very low-density lipoproteins

They have the most triglycerides and least protein

Correct answer:

They have the highest protein content

Explanation:

High-density lipoproteins have the highest proportion of protein of the five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

Example Question #19 : Identifying Specific Protein Structures

Which of the following statements best describes chylomicrons as compared to other lipoproteins?

Possible Answers:

The have a higher density then high-density lipoproteins

They have the highest protein content

They have the most triglycerides and least protein

They have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters

Correct answer:

They have the most triglycerides and least protein

Explanation:

There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

Example Question #102 : Identifying Biochemical Molecules

Which blood lipoprotein has the lowest density of the lipoproteins?

Possible Answers:

Chylomicrons

Low-density lipoproteins

Very-low-density lipoproteins

Intermediate density lipoproteins

Correct answer:

Chylomicrons

Explanation:

Low-density lipoproteins have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters. There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

Example Question #51 : Identification By Structure

Which blood lipoprotein has the highest ratio of protein to triglycerides?

Possible Answers:

High-density lipoproteins

Low-density lipoproteins

Chylomicrons

Very-low-density lipoproteins

Correct answer:

High-density lipoproteins

Explanation:

Low-density lipoproteins have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters. There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

Example Question #52 : Identification By Structure

Which of the blood lipoproteins has the highest amount of cholesterol and cholesterol esters?

Possible Answers:

Low-density lipoproteins

Chylomicrons

High-density lipoproteins

Very-low-density lipoproteins

Correct answer:

Low-density lipoproteins

Explanation:

Low-density lipoproteins have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters. There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

Example Question #53 : Identification By Structure

Which of the following is the exclusive apolipoprotein of low-density lipoproteins?

Possible Answers:

Apo-43

Apo-18

Apo-48

Apo-100

Correct answer:

Apo-100

Explanation:

The exclusive apolipoprotein of low-density lipoproteins (LDL's) is apoB-100. LDL's are taken up by cells via IDL receptor-mediated endocytosis, as described above for IDL uptake. The uptake of LDL's occurs predominantly in liver (75%), adrenal glands, and adipose tissue. As with intermediate-density lipoproteins, the interaction of LDL's with LDL receptors requires the presence of apoB-100. The endocytosed membrane vesicles (endosomes) fuse with lysosomes, in which the apoproteins are degraded and the cholesterol esters are hydrolyzed to yield free cholesterol. Apo-48 is the exclusive apolipoprotein associated with chylomicrons.

Example Question #54 : Identification By Structure

A gap junction consists of __________.

Possible Answers:

More than one of these

2 connexons

12 connexins

an eighteen-strand beta barrel

Correct answer:

More than one of these

Explanation:

A connexon is made up of 6 alpha subunits (connexins) arranged hexagonally and embedded in the plasma membrane. Two membrane connexins together form a connexon, which comprises a gap junction. Gap junctions are important for the movement of small ions, amino acids, sugars, and nucleotides between cells.

An 18-strand beta barrel is indicative of another membrane transport structure called a maltoporin.

Example Question #55 : Identification By Structure

Which metal ion is complexed at the middle of vitamin B12?

Possible Answers:

Cobalt

Sulfur

Iron

Magnesium

Zinc

Correct answer:

Cobalt

Explanation:

Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin, and has cobalt at the center of a corrin ring. Cobalt is rarely found in biology, and the synthesis of cobalamin only naturally occurs in bacteria and archaea. For that reason, vitamin B12 has to be ingested in our diet; it is not synthesized in the human body. Iron is found, among other places, in hemoglobin; zinc, in carbonic anhydrase; magnesium, for example, in chlorophyll; and sulfur in iron-sulfur proteins.

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