High School Biology : DNA, RNA, and Proteins

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Protein Structure

In which of the following levels of protein structure will you find alpha-helices and beta-sheets? 

Possible Answers:

Quaternary

Primary

Tertiary

Secondary

Correct answer:

Secondary

Explanation:

Proteins have four levels of structure. Secondary structure involves the formation of alpha-helices and beta-sheets via hydrogen bonding between the amino acid backbone in the protein chain. 

Primary protein structure simply refers to the linear sequence of amino acid residues in the polypeptide chain. After initial folding of the backbone in secondary structure, functional groups of the amino acids interact to generate tertiary structure. Tertiary structure contains hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, and disulfide bridges. Some proteins then develop quaternary structure, when multiple polypeptide chains are joined as subunits to build a large protein complex. 

Example Question #1 : Understanding Active Sites

Which of the following inhibitors will block the active site of a protein?

Possible Answers:

Uncompetive inhibitor

Allosteric inhibitor

Competitive inhibitor

Non-competitive inhibitor 

All of these will block the active site of a protein

Correct answer:

Competitive inhibitor

Explanation:

Proteins can be inhibited in numerous ways by different types of inhibitors. Competitive inhibitors will compete with substrate for the active site to block the protein from performing its function. If there is enough substrate and very little competitive inhibitor, proteins will perform their functions almost as if there were no competitive inhibitors.

In contrast, allosteric inhibitors bind to regions of the protein away from the active site, but change the shape of the active site such that substrate cannot bind. Since there is no direct competition, increasing substrate concentration cannot overcome allosteric inhibition. Non-competitive inhibition is a type of allosteric inhibition. Uncompetitive inhibition occurs when the inhibitor will only bind to the enzyme-substrate complex, locking the substrate in place and preventing other substrates from binding.

Example Question #12 : Protein Structure

The active site of a protein works in a way similar to __________.

Possible Answers:

a motor in a car

a hole in a wall

a lock and key

a gate in a fence

the shuffle button on an MP3 player

Correct answer:

a lock and key

Explanation:

The active site on a protein is the area where a substrate can attach. This relationship is most often described using a metaphor of a lock and a key because each protein has an active site specific to one substrate much like a lock can only be opened by one key.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Active Sites

__________ modification of an enzyme permits an effector molecule to bind the enzyme at a site other than the active site. This can modulate the enzyme's activity to make it either more or less active.

Possible Answers:

Allosteric

Cofactor

Inhibitory 

Antagonist

Agonist

Correct answer:

Allosteric

Explanation:

The key here is to know that if something binds the enzyme at a location other than the active site, the type of modification is defined as allosteric. The other words more generally describe things that can bind to receptors, enzymes, etc., but the best and most specific answer is "allosteric."

Example Question #33 : Proteins

Which of the following best describes why an enzyme loses its catalytic capabilities when exposed to extremely high temperatures?

Possible Answers:

Covalent modifications made to the enzyme are disrupted by high temperatures and the enzyme cannot bind its substrate

The bonds maintaining the shape of the enzyme are broken, and the active site loses its conformation and can no longer bind its proper substrate

The activation energy of the reaction becomes so great that the enzyme cannot overcome the energy, and therefore cannot catalyze reactions

All of these statements describe mechanisms by which heat destroys the catalytic activity of an enzyme

All substrates are degraded at high temperatures, and therefore there is no reaction to catalyze

Correct answer:

The bonds maintaining the shape of the enzyme are broken, and the active site loses its conformation and can no longer bind its proper substrate

Explanation:

It is important to know that when exposed to high temperatures, all proteins become denatured, and lose their native shape/conformation.

This has nothing to do with the activation energy of the reaction (eliminating that answer). While some substrates may be degraded at high temperatures, the word "all" renders this answer incorrect, nor does this describe what happens to the enzyme. Covalent modificatinos can change enzymatic function, but do not have anything to do with higher temperature.

The correct answer is that the enzyme itself is denatured, thus changing the shape and the way the active site is shaped, resulting in an inability to efficiently bind its substrate. The structure of the enzyme is dictated by intermolecular forces, which are susceptible to interference from temperature changes (unlike covalent bonds).

Example Question #4 : Understanding Active Sites

Which mode of enzyme inhibition involves an inhibitor molecule binding the active site of the enzyme?

Possible Answers:

Irreversible inhibition

Non-competitive inhibition

Competitive inhibition

Mixed inhibition

Uncompetitive inhibition

Correct answer:

Competitive inhibition

Explanation:

Competitive inhibition is the only type of inhibition in which the inhibitor molecule directly binds the active site of the enzyme, thereby 'competing' with the actual substrate for location on the enzyme. The other choices involve binding elsewhere on the enzyme (non-competitive) or binding the enzyme-substrate complex but not an isolated enzyme (mixed), but none of them describe binding the active site except for competitive. 

Example Question #13 : Protein Structure

Collagen is an example of which type of protein?

Possible Answers:

Integral protein

Globular protein

Enzyme

Structural protein

Correct answer:

Structural protein

Explanation:

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It adds great strength and flexibility to skin, tendons, and ligaments. These qualities are characteristic of structural proteins.

Globular proteins are generally rounded, protecting a nonpolar center from the aqueous environment around the protein. Most cytoplasmic proteins and enzymes are globular proteins. In contrast, fibrous proteins are generally elongated and designed for structural support; collagen is a fibrous protein, in addition to a structural protein. Integral proteins span the plasma membrane, often creating channels.

Example Question #14 : Protein Structure

Which of the following refers to the bond between two amino acids?

Possible Answers:

Glycosidic bond

Ester bond

Ionic bond

Polar bond

Peptide bond

Correct answer:

Peptide bond

Explanation:

A peptide bond is formed between the carboxyl group and amino group of adjoining amino acids. The energy in proteins is released when peptide bonds are broken. Peptide bonds also determine the primary structure of proteins.

An ionic bond is formed when one element loses an electron and another element gains an electron. Ionic bonds most frequently form between metals and non-metals, and are not commonly seen in proteins.

A glycosidic bond is formed between a carbohydrate and another molecule. Glycosidic bonds can help form carbohydrate polymers, like glycogen, or link sugars to other groups, like in the DNA backbone.

An ester bond can be found in fatty acids, and contains a carbonyl group next to an ether linkage.

Example Question #21 : Protein Structure

Which of the following types of protein can move around within the lipid bilayer?

Possible Answers:

Peripheral membrane proteins

None of these can move around in the lipid bilayer

Intermembrane proteins

Integral membrane proteins

Mitochondrial proteins

Correct answer:

Peripheral membrane proteins

Explanation:

Proteins are classified into several categories based on where they perform their function. Peripheral membrane proteins span only one side of the lipid bilayer and thus have mobility. Unlike integral membrane proteins, which span the entire lipid bilayer, peripheral membrane proteins have the liberty of traveling from layer to layer as well as flip flop between the two bilayers.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Protein Classifications

Which type of enzyme is responsible for rearranging a substrate, but not altering its chemical formula?

Possible Answers:

Isomerase

Ligase

Hydrolase

Oxidoreductase

Correct answer:

Isomerase

Explanation:

Isomers are molecules that have the same molecular formula, but have different chemical structures. Isomerases are enzymes that are able to rearrange the structure of a molecule while keeping its chemical formula the same.

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