Biochemistry : Identification by Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #81 : Identification By Structure

Guanine

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Guanine

Guanosine

Purine

Adenosine

Adenine

Correct answer:

Guanine

Explanation:

This nitrogenous base is guanine. Although it has a purine ring system, purine is not its specific name. If the guanine were bound to a sugar, it would be called guanosine.

Example Question #82 : Identification By Structure

Uracil

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Thymine

Pyrimidine

Cytosine

Thymidine

Uracil

Correct answer:

Thymine

Explanation:

This nitrogenous base is thymine. Although it has a pyrimidine ring system, pyrimidine is not its specific name. If the thymine were bound to a sugar, it would be called thymidine.

Example Question #83 : Identification By Structure

Which of the following nitrogenous bases is found exclusively in DNA?

Possible Answers:

Uracil

Cytosine

Adenine

Uracil

Adenine

Correct answer:

Uracil

Explanation:

Thymine is the nitrogenous base that is only found in DNA. All of the other bases can be found in both DNA and RNA.

Example Question #84 : Identification By Structure

3  5  phosphodiester bond

Describe the bond indicated by the box in the given figure.

Possible Answers:

3',5' phosphodiester bond

5',3' phosphodiester bond

3',5' phosphoester bond

5',3' phosphoester bond

3',5' phosphate bond

Correct answer:

3',5' phosphodiester bond

Explanation:

The 3',5' phosphodiester bond describes the way the bond occurs. The oxygen in the 3' hydroxyl group in the nucleotide on the top bonds to the phosphorus of the 5' phosphate group of the nucleotide on the bottom. The bond consists of a

carbon-oxygen-phosphorus-oxygen-carbon direct linkage. Carbon-oxygen-phosphorous and posphorous-oxygen-carbon are two separate esters, hence the "diester" part of the name. 

Example Question #85 : Identification By Structure

Atp

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Adenosine-5-phosphate

Adenine-5-triphosphate

Adenosine-5-triphosphate

Adenosine triphosphate

Adenine triphosphate

Correct answer:

Adenosine-5-triphosphate

Explanation:

This nucleotide is adenosine-5-triphosphate, also known as ATP. When the nitrogenous base adenine is bound to a sugar, it becomes a nucleoside called adenosine. The carbon in the ribose at the site of the glycosidic bond is referred to as the 1' carbon. If we count clockwise, we will see that the phosphates are bound at the 5' carbon. Because there are three phosphate groups bound, the nomenclature must be 5-triphosphate.

Example Question #13 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Cytidine

Identify the given nucleotide, nucleoside or nitrogenous base.

Possible Answers:

Adenosine

Cytidine

Uridine

Deoxycytidine

Cytosine

Correct answer:

Cytidine

Explanation:

This nucleoside is cytidine. If the base were not bound to the sugar, this would be cytosine. If the 2' hydroxyl group were missing, this structure would be deoxycytidine. (The 2' hydroxyl is the  closest to the glycosidic bond between the base and the sugar). 

Example Question #14 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Which of the following composes nucleotides?

Possible Answers:

Phosphate, nitrogenous base, fructose

Ribose, nitrogenous base, phosphate

Purines, pyrimidines, pentose, nucleotide base

Nitrogenous base, phosphate, glucose

Pentose, nitrogenous base, phosphate

Correct answer:

Pentose, nitrogenous base, phosphate

Explanation:

Nucleotides are formed by a pentose sugar (either ribose or deoxyribose), a nitrogenous base (adenine, cytosine, guanine, thymine, or uracil), and one or more phosphate groups. Polymers of nucleotides are known as nucleic acids (DNA and RNA).

Example Question #15 : Identifying Specific Nucleic Acid Structures

Which of the following nucleic acid bases is not in the right category?

Possible Answers:

Adenine - purine

Cytosine - pyrimidine

Uracil - purine

Thymine - pyrimidine

Guanine - purine

Correct answer:

Uracil - purine

Explanation:

The pyrimidines, which contain a single six-membered ring, are uracil, cytosine, and thymine. The purines, which contain a six-membered ring and a five-membered ring, are adenine and guanine. A mnemonic to help you remember these two groups is that pyrimidines, like pyramids are sharp - and sharp things CUT (cytosine, uracil, thymine).

Example Question #141 : Identifying Biochemical Molecules

Which of the following nucleotides are purines?

Possible Answers:

Adenine and cytosine

Cytosine and adenine

Adenine and guanine

Cytosine and thymine

Thymine and guanine

Correct answer:

Adenine and guanine

Explanation:

Adenine and guanine are purines, while cytosine and thymine are pyrimidines.  A helpful mnemonic for this is Pure (purine) As (adenine) Gold (guanine).  Note that uracil is a pyrimidine, but is only seen in RNA.

Example Question #86 : Identification By Structure

In the eukaryotic ribosome, the sedimentation coefficient for the small subunit is __________ and large subunit is __________.

Possible Answers:

35S . . . 70S

40S . . . 70S

60S . . . 80S

40S . . . 60S

20S . . . 60S

Correct answer:

40S . . . 60S

Explanation:

The 80S eukaryotic ribosome is made up of 40S and 60S subunits.

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