All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #2 : Help With Protein Degradation
Ubiquitination of a protein is one way to mediate protein degradation, however, ubiquitination is only a signal. What is ultimately responsible for ubiquitin-mediated degradation of a protein?
Proteasome
Peroxisome
Hydrolysis
None of these
Lysosome
Proteasome
The correct answer is proteasome. Ubiquitination of a protein signals for the proteasome to degrade it and recycle the ubiquitin. Alternatively, the lysosome does degrade proteins, however, this process is independent of ubiquitin. The peroxisome is responsible for the degradation of fatty acids, certain amino acids, and reactive oxygen species. Hydrolysis simply refers to a chemical mechanism that splits apart a compound by the addition of water, it does not however, describe an organelle or cellular compartment that is reponsible for protein degradation.
Example Question #33 : Cellular Processes
The ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation process targets proteins to which cellular structure for degradation?
Lysosome
Endoplasmic reticulum
Golgi
Vesicle
Proteasome
Proteasome
The correct answer is proteasome. There are two general protein degradation processes: the first involving the lysosome and the second involving the proteasome. Lysosomal protein degradation is non-selective and occurs during cell starvation. Degradation through the proteasome is dependent on ubiquitination of the target protein, and as such, ensures protein-specific degradation.
Example Question #3 : Help With Protein Degradation
How does ubiquitination of a protein facilitate its degradation?
Promotes exocytosis of the protein
Promotes reprocessing through the Golgi apparatus
None of the other answers
Recognition of ubiquitin by the lysosome
Recognition of ubiquitin by the proteasome
Recognition of ubiquitin by the proteasome
The correct answer is recognition of ubiquitin by the proteasome. Ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation by the proteasome is a well characterized method of specific protein degradation. The protein targeted for degradation is phosphorylated, then ubiquitinated. The proteasome recognizes these distinct ubiquitin chains and degrades the protein. Protein degradation can also occur through the lysosome, but this is independent of ubiquitination and is less specific. The golgi complex is involved in protein folding and modification of recently translated amino acid chains.
Example Question #35 : Cellular Processes
What is the difference between proteolysis and ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation?
Proteolysis is the degradation of organelles whereas proteins are degraded through ubiquitin-dependent mechanisms
Proteolysis occurs in the lysosome but ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is in the proteasome
Proteolysis occurs in only in the nucleus, but ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation occurs only in the cytoplasm
These two processes are synonymous
Proteolysis occurs in the lysosome but ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is in the proteasome
The correct answer is that proteolysis occurs in the lysosome but ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is in the proteasome. Proteolysis-lysosomal degradation is non-selective and is activated upon cellular starvation. ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation is highly specific and functions to promote a wide range of cellular processes.
Example Question #3 : Help With Protein Degradation
Which of the following additions to a protein will signal the cell to degrade it?
Ubiquitination
Hydroxylation
Glycosylation
Glycation
Ubiquitination
Older proteins in our bodies need to be degraded once they become damaged or no longer necessary. One way that the cell tags these proteins is by adding a ubiquitin tag, which can then be recognized by a proteasome, leading to the proteins' deconstruction.
Example Question #1 : Help With Vesicle Transport
Which of the following protein coats would most likely be seen on a vesicle directed towards the plasma membrane?
COPII
None of the answers
COPI
Clathrin
Clathrin
Clathrin coats are often seen trafficking vesicles from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane. Clathrin protein is used to facilitate membrane invagination and vesicle formation, as well as direct vesicle release.
COPI coats are seen in vesicles headed from the Golgi apparatus back to the endoplasmic reticulum. COPII coats are seen in vesicles headed towards the Golgi apparatus from the endoplasmic reticulum.
Example Question #11 : Protein Regulation
Which of the following portions of the cytoskeleton are used extensively for vesicular transport?
I. Actin
II. Intermediate filaments
III. Microtubules
I, II, and III
III only
I and III
I and II
I and III
Actin and microtubules have similar chemical properties. They maintain a nucleotide gradient (ADP/ATP for actin and GDP/GTP for microtubules) across their structures and have two distinct polarized ends. Intermediate filaments do not have either of these characteristics. For that reason, motor proteins associate with actin and microtubules as opposed to intermediate filaments. The polarity of the microtubules and actin allow the motor proteins to become oriented, transporting cargo in a particular direction along the structure. These motor proteins (such as myosin, dynein, and kinesin) are essential for vesicular transport.
Example Question #2 : Help With Vesicle Transport
Which of the following proteins/structures are involved in the mechanism of vesicular transport?
I. Actin microfilament cytoskeleton
II. Intermediate filament cytoskeleton
III. Kinesin
IV. Microtubule cytoskeleton
III and IV
I and II
II only
I, III, and IV
I, III, and IV
Both the actin microfilament cytoskeleton and the microtubule cytoskeleton serve important functions in vesicular transport. They serve as the structures upon which motor proteins move, essentially providing a directional tract for vesicular transport. Motor proteins, such as kinesin, associate with vesicles and bring them from one area of the cell to the other along the directional filaments.
The intermediate filament cytoskeleton lacks the polarity displayed by actin microfilaments and microtubules, making it not very useful for vesicular transport.
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?
Cleavage of SNAREs inhibits vesicles containing neurotransmitters from fusing to the membrane and stimulating the post-synaptic muscle
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 disrupts the propagation of the action potential from the axon hillock to the presynaptic membrane
The toxin prevents the SNAREs from stimulating proper synthesis of neurotransmitters in the neuron
The toxin is globally toxic and the organism is paralyzed as the tissue becomes necrotic
Cleavage of SNAREs inhibits vesicles containing neurotransmitters from fusing to the membrane and stimulating the post-synaptic muscle
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)?
Dynein
Myelin
Actin
Microfilament
Kinesin
Dynein
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.