All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Help With Mitochondria Structure
Where does the Krebs cycle take place in the mitochondria?
Outer mitochondrial membrane
Inner mitochondrial membrane
Intermembrane space
Mitochondrial matrix
Mitochondrial matrix
The mitochondrion is a double-membraned organelle responsible for generating ATP for the cell. The Krebs cycle is the middle step of cellular respiration, and takes place in the mitochondrial matrix.
Example Question #1 : Mitochondria And Chloroplasts
In what part of mitochondria does the electron transport chain take place?
Intermembrane space
Thylakoid space
Matrix
Outer membrane
Inner membrane
Inner membrane
While the matrix, outer membrane, and intermembrane spaces are components of mitochondria, the correct answer is inner membrane. The thylakoid space is found in chloroplasts not mitochondria. Compounds are embedded in the inner membrane and transfer electrons from electron donors to electron acceptors by redox reactions. The final enzyme in the chain is ATP synthase, which generates ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.
Example Question #1 : Mitochondria And Chloroplasts
Crucial steps of the citric acid cycle and the electron transport chain occur within the mitochondria. Which of the following pairs of answers contains an enzyme essential to ATP synthesis, and its correct mitochondrial localization?
ADP phosphatase, mitochondrial cristae
ADP phosphorylase, inner mitochondrial membrane
ATP synthase, outer mitochondrial membrane
ATP synthase, inner mitochondrial membrane
ATP reductase, mitochondrial cristae
ATP synthase, inner mitochondrial membrane
ATP synthase is the correct enzyme, and it is powered by a gradient that permits the addition of an inorganic phosphate group to a molecule of ADP. This is located in the inner membrane of the mitochondria, where the ETC is pumping out to form the necessary gradient required to power ATP synthase.
Example Question #1 : Mitochondria And Chloroplasts
Where do the light reactions take place in the chloroplast?
The intermembrane space
The stroma
The outer membrane
The thylakoid membrane
The thylakoid membrane
The chloroplast has a very simular structure to the mitochondrion, as it is a double-membraned organelle. The chloroplast is used to house the processes of photosynthesis. The light reactions take place in the thylakoid membrane, while the light independent reactions take place in the stroma.
Example Question #1 : Mitochondria And Chloroplasts
Which of the following is not true of the endosymbiotic theory?
None of the answers
The inner membrane of mitochondria displays similarities to bacterial membranes
The mitochondria shows similarities to fossilized microorganisms
Mitochondria have their own genomes that contain similarities to bacterial genomes
None of the answers
All three of the given answers are true and supportive of the endosymbiotic theory. Because mitochondria have membranes and genomes similar to those contained by bacteria, it is likely that they were once free-living organisms. The mitochondria have also been known to display remarkable similarities to fossilized microorganisms.
Endosymbiotic theory suggests that mitochondria were once free-living prokaryotes that were engulfed by a larger prokaryote. The engulfed cell still generated a proton gradient between its cell membrane and cell wall for energy synthesis, which the larger surrounding cell was able to use. The larger cell provided protection for the engulfed cell. Over time, the engulfed cell lost some of its distinct features, but continued to produce energy, evolving into the modern mitochondrial organelle.
Example Question #2 : Mitochondria And Chloroplasts
The __________ theory hypothesizes that __________ were originally free-living prokaryotes.
ectosymbiotic . . . lysosomes
ectosymbiotic . . . mitochondria
endosymbiotic . . . lysosomes
endosymbiotic . . . mitochondria
endosymbiotic . . . mitochondria
Ectosymbiosis is a term that refers to an organism that lives on the outside of the host. Both lysosomes and mitochondria are inside of the cell, so these choices cannot be correct.
The endosymbiotic theory postulates that mitochondria were once free-living prokaryotes that have evolved to form a symbiotic relationship with eukaryotic cells. The original prokaryotes were engulfed by larger prokaryotic cells, but continued to generate energy via the membrane gradient. This energy was used by both the smaller engulfed cell and the larger cell, and the smaller cell gained protection and nutrients. Eventually, this relationship evolved into modern eukaryotic cells and mitochondria. There is a plethora of evidence to support this theory. A few examples are that the mitochondrial membranes are more similar in structure to those of bacteria than of eukaryotes, and mitochondria contain their own genomes.
Example Question #3 : Help With Evolutionary Theories
Which if the following organelles is not theorized to have arisen in eukaryotes via an endosymbiotic relationship?
Ribosomes
Mitochondria
Flagella
Chloroplasts
Ribosomes
The endosymbiotic theory states that ancient prokaryotes may have had a symbiotic relationship with early eukaryotes, leading them to become permanent organelles in the eukaryote. Chloroplasts, mitochondria, and flagella have all been tied to this theory. Ribosomes, however, are organelles found in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, so they are not a part of the theory.
Example Question #31 : Cellular Structures And Functions
Which of the following statements is false concerning mitochondria?
Mitochondria code for their own ribosomes that resemble bacterial ones
Mitochondria are surrounded with a thin peptidoglycan layer
Mitochondria contain a small circular genome that is separate from the cellular genome
Mitochondria divided separately from the rest of the cell by binary fission
The outer membrane of mitochondria contain porins
Mitochondria are surrounded with a thin peptidoglycan layer
The endosymbotic theory suggests that mitochondria originated from a bacteria that was engulfed by a proto-eukaryotic cell. Much evidence for this theory is based on the fact that mitochondria resemble bacteria in many ways. They do not however contain a peptidoglycan cell wall like almost all bacterial cells do.
Example Question #1 : Endoplasmic Reticulum And Golgi Apparatus
Which component of the Golgi apparatus is primarily responsible for "receiving" proteins to be packaged and modified?
Medial Golgi
Trans Golgi
Cis Golgi
Vacuoles
Cisternae
Cis Golgi
The cis Golgi is usually closely apposed to the endoplasmic reticulum, where proteins are synthesized by ribosomes. Once they have left the ribosome, the proteins are already close to the Golgi and are taken up by the cis side of the apparatus. The trans Golgi sends the newly packaged proteins out to their final destinations.
Example Question #1 : Endoplasmic Reticulum And Golgi Apparatus
Which component/suborganelle structure of the Golgi apparatus accepts vesicles from the rough endoplasmic reticulum containing nascent proteins to be processed through the Golgi apparatus?
Trans Golgi stack
Trans face
Medial Golgi stack
Lumen
Cis face
Cis face
The cis face of the Golgi apparatus is the first part of the apparatus that faces the rough endoplasmic reticulum and interacts with recently synthesized proteins that need to be processed and packaged by the Golgi apparatus. The rest of the structures listed are indeed parts of the Golgi that the proteins must pass through during the course of processing, but the cis face is met first.