GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : Cellular Processes

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 201 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept

Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Help With Vesicle Transport

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that causes paralysis of the muscles. This is accomplished by cleavage of SNARE proteins contained within the presynaptic compartment of the neuron. Given this information, which of the following best describes how botulinum toxin causes paralysis? 

Possible Answers:

Disruption of SNAREs reverses transport of vesicles to a retrograde direction, taking them away from the muscle and towards the cell soma

Cleavage of SNAREs inhibits vesicles containing neurotransmitters from fusing to the membrane and stimulating the post-synaptic muscle

The toxin is globally toxic and the organism is paralyzed as the tissue becomes necrotic

The toxin prevents the SNAREs from stimulating proper synthesis of neurotransmitters in the neuron

Cleavage of SNAREs disrupts the propagation of the action potential from the axon hillock to the presynaptic membrane

Correct answer:

Cleavage of SNAREs inhibits vesicles containing neurotransmitters from fusing to the membrane and stimulating the post-synaptic muscle

Explanation:

This requires knowing that SNARE proteins are required for proper vesicle fusion to the membrane, thereby permitting exocytosis of neurotransmitters into the synaptic cleft and activating the next target; muscle in this case. Paralysis comes because the muscle is not receiving any input once the toxin has cleaved/destroyed the SNARE proteins. 

Example Question #1 : Help With Vesicle Transport

Which of the following motor proteins carries vesicular cargo along microtubules exclusively towards the microtubule organizing center (MTOC)?

Possible Answers:

Microfilament

Kinesin

Actin

Dynein

Myelin

Correct answer:

Dynein

Explanation:

Actin (microfilaments) is a cytoskeletal component, and myelin is an axon wrapping component; not molecular motors. Kinesin is a motor that moves in the plus-end direction, away from the MTOC. Dynein is the correct answer; it moves in the minus-end direction towards the MTOC.

Example Question #3 : Help With Vesicle Transport

SNARE (soluble NSF attachment protein receptor) proteins are crucial molecular mediators of vesicular exocytosis. SNAREs require calcium to mediate exocytosis; namely, one protein component of the SNARE complex interacts with synaptotagmin in a calcium dependent fashion. Which of the following answers lists the SNARE proteins that interacts with synaptotagmin?

Possible Answers:

Exo70

Sec1

Synaptobrevin

Syntaxin 

SNAP-25

Correct answer:

Syntaxin 

Explanation:

Synaptotagmin is a calcium sensor that is associated with the vesicle to be exocytosed. In a high calcium environment, synaptotagmin becomes activated and interacts with syntaxin, a SNARE protein docked in the membrane from which the vesicle will be exocytosed. This interaction permits selective exocytosis during processes such as neurotransmission when there is a large calcium influx, indicating a message must be relayed to the next cell. 

Example Question #1 : Help With Other Protein Regulation

How do Bax and Bak promote cell death?

Possible Answers:

They bind and block Bcl2 from inhibiting Bax and Bak activators

They allow the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which activates procaspase

They cleave procaspase into caspase, which initiates the caspase cascade

They are a major component of the apoptosome

Correct answer:

They allow the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytosol, which activates procaspase

Explanation:

Bax and Bak dimerize to form a pore in the mitochondria outer membrane, which allows cytochrome c to escape into the cytosol. When cytochrome c is found in the cytosol, procaspase becomes activated and is cleaved into caspase. Once the caspase cascade begins the cell is destined for death.

Bax and Bak have nothing to do with the apoptosome and, while Bcl2 does block Bax and Bak from dimerizing, Bax and Bak do not prevent the action of Bcl2.

Example Question #111 : Cell Biology

What is the key functional difference between GEFs (guanine nucleotide exchange factors) and GAPs (GTPase activating proteins)?

Possible Answers:

GEFs add guanine nucleotides to small GTPases and GAPs cleave them to promote activation. 

GEFs are cytosolic and act on proteins there, while GAPs are nuclear and act on proteins within the nucleus. 

GEFs 'deactivate' small GTPases and GAPs 'activate' small GTPases. 

GEFs 'activate' small GTPases and GAPs 'deactivate' small GTPases.

GEFs and GAPs have no functional difference, only slight differences in structure. 

Correct answer:

GEFs 'activate' small GTPases and GAPs 'deactivate' small GTPases.

Explanation:

A GEF activates a small GTPase by exchanging a bound GDP (which confers an inactive state) for a GTP (which is higher energy, and activates the protein). A GAP performs the opposite; GAPs enhance the intrinsic GTPase activity of the small GTPase, which causes hydrolysis of the GTP on the active protein, thus converting it back to GDP and an inactive state.

Example Question #43 : Cellular Processes

One commonly studied outcome of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation is the activation of phospholipase C (PLC). What two important second messengers are formed when PLC cleaves phosphoinositide-4,5-bisphosphate 

Possible Answers:

Protein kinase C (PKC) and 

 and 

 and protein kinase C (PKC)

Protein kinase C (PKC) and 

 and 

Correct answer:

 and 

Explanation:

Interactions between , , , and PKC do indeed occur downstream of activation of PLC to contribute to numerous downstream cascades primarily initiated by protein kinase C (PKC). However, it is important to understand that the second messengers are  and , which are specifically formed by the cleavage of , and each of the other molecules is considered an effector of those second messengers in this context.

Example Question #112 : Cell Biology

What provides the necessary information to specify the three dimensional shape of proteins?

Possible Answers:

The proteins interactions with chaperone proteins

Specific hydrogen bonds

The proteins peptide bonds

The amino acid sequence

The protein's interactions with other polypeptides

Correct answer:

The amino acid sequence

Explanation:

Proteins have different level of protein structure, termed primary, secondary, and tertiary (quarternary is also a type in certain proteins). The 3D shape of proteins is largely due to the tertiary structure of a protein. This level is dictated by the specific amino acid sequence of the protein.

Example Question #1 : Help With The Cell Cycle

During which phase of the cell cycle are cells considered quiescent?

Possible Answers:

G2 phase

G0 phase

G1 phase

Any portion of interphase

Correct answer:

G0 phase

Explanation:

The cell cycle is divided into several phases, with checkpoints that control transitions between phases of the cell cycle. The G1 checkpoint (restriction checkpoint) is the first of these barriers, and requires adequate quantities of the cyclin protein in order for the cell to continue maturing in preparation for division. When a cell fails to express cyclin, the cell reverts to an inactive quiescent state and stops preparations for division. This state is known as the G0 phase. The G0 phase can be overcome if cyclin is reintroduced to the cell environment.

The G1 and G2 phases are involved in protein production and organelle replication. DNA replication occurs during the S phase, between G1 and G2. The cell enters the M phase, mitosis, after passing a checkpoint that follows the G2 phase. G0, G1, S, and G2 phases are all considered part of interphase.

Example Question #44 : Cellular Processes

What is the primary purpose of the S phase of the cell cycle?

Possible Answers:

DNA replication

Organelle replication

Cell division

Cell growth

Correct answer:

DNA replication

Explanation:

Interphase is composed of three subphases: G1, S, and G2. While the two G phases are dedicated to cellular growth and organelle replication, the S phase is used to replicate the genetic material of the cell.

Example Question #41 : Cellular Processes

In the cell cycle, what is primarily responsible for cell cycle progression from G2 to M phase and is also referred to as the maturation promoting factor when in complex with cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (Cdk1)?

Possible Answers:

Cyclin B

Cyclin E

None of these

Cyclin A

Cyclin D

Correct answer:

Cyclin B

Explanation:

The correct answer is cyclin B. Cyclin B concentration in the cell spikes at the transition from G2 phase to mitosis/meiosis. Cyclin E controls pre-replication complex assembly which makes chromatin replicable during G1 to S phase. Cyclin A then replaces cyclin E in the nucleus, promoting DNA replication. Cyclin D is also important in driving G1/S phase transition and is sustained in proliferating cells the longest of the cyclins. 

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

1 Diagnostic Test 201 Practice Tests Question of the Day Flashcards Learn by Concept
Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors