High School Biology : High School Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #211 : High School Biology

Given below are four events that occur during the synthesis and transport of proteins. 

1. Protein is transported to Golgi apparatus for packaging

2. Translation of mRNA occurs in the cytosol

3. Protein is transported to the cell membrane

4. Protein is transported to rough endoplasmic reticulum for processing

Which of the following is the correct order of these events?

Possible Answers:

1, 3, 2, 4

2, 1, 4, 3

2, 4, 1, 3

3, 2, 1, 4

Correct answer:

2, 4, 1, 3

Explanation:

To answer this question you need to know the sequence of events that a protein goes through during and after synthesis.

The first step is the synthesis of protein. This occurs when mRNA is translated to protein by ribosomes. The first event is statement 2.

After its synthesis, the protein is transported to the rough endoplasmic reticulum where it is processed. This processing involves removal of unwanted amino acid sequences, such as signal sequences. The second event is statement 4.

From the rough endoplasmic reticulum the protein is transported to Golgi apparatus where it is further processed and packaged. This next event is statement 1.

The last step is the delivery of protein to the cell membrane (statement 3). Once the protein reaches the cell membrane it can either be exported to the outside (exocytosis) or become part of the membrane (integral and peripheral membrane proteins). Remember that the protein is transported by vesicles and that it never makes contact with the cytosol.

Example Question #2 : Transport And Signaling

Which of the following is an example of endocytosis?

Possible Answers:

A vesicle transporting materials out of a cell

A plasma membrane engulfing large materials so that they can enter the cell

Light and carbon dioxide being converted into carbohydrate and oxygen

A vesicle transporting materials in to a cell

Correct answer:

A vesicle transporting materials in to a cell

Explanation:

Endocytosis is the process of a cell receiving the contents of a vesicle. The vesicle will fuse with the cell membrane and release its contents into the cytoplasm for cellular use.

In contrast, exocytosis is the release of compounds from a cell via vesicle transport. Vesicles are formed at the Golgi apparatus and transported through the cytoplasm to fuse with the cell membrane, where the contents are released into the extracellular space. Transport vesicles can also be formed to contain and carry molecules away from the cell.

The plasma membrane engulfing particles to enter the cell would be an example of pinocytosis, and the conversion of light and carbon dioxide to carbohydrate and oxygen is the process of photosynthesis.

Example Question #4 : Understanding Endocytosis And Exocytosis

Which process best decribes how a macrophage (immune cell) engulfs a bacterial pathogen? 

Possible Answers:

Phagocytosis

Active transport

Pinocytosis

Diffusion

Endocytosis

Correct answer:

Phagocytosis

Explanation:

The correct answer is phagocytosis. Phagocytosis involves the engulfing of an external particle to form a phagosome (a vesicle inside the cell). This process differs from pinocytosis in that pinocyotsis refers to the engulfing of liquids from the environment. Phagocytosis is a specific form of endocytosis; thus, phagocytosis is the better answer as endocyotsis can also describe processes such as pinocytosis. Diffusion and Active Transport both do not relate to the phenomenon as no concentration gradient is in place. 

Example Question #3 : Transport And Signaling

Which of the following cannot act as a ligand?

Possible Answers:

Inhibitors

Calcium ions

Neurotransmitters

Steroids

Integral membrane proteins

Correct answer:

Integral membrane proteins

Explanation:

Ligands bind to receptors, which cause conformational changes and various effects on the cell. Integral membrane proteins span the lipid bilayer. These proteins commonly act as receptors and bind to ligands to produce conformation changes. They cannot leave the lipid bilayer, and thus are never ligands that can bind to other receptors.

Ligands are generally small ions or molecules, such as glucose or triglycerides. Calcium ions act as second messenger ligands in signal transduction. Steroid hormones, like testosterone, bind to proteins in the nucleus to alter transcription patterns. Neurotransmitters bind to receptors on dendrites to cause action potential propagation. Inhibitors can bind to receptors to block other ligands from interacting.

Example Question #2 : Transport And Signaling

Which of the following is NOT true regarding receptors and ligands?

Possible Answers:

Ligands are usually proteins.

Ligands usually make covalent bonds with their receptors.

It is possible for a receptor to bind more than one ligand.

The receptor for a ligand may either be on the cell's surface or inside the cytoplasm.

Binding of a ligand always turns on the protein to which it is bound.

Correct answer:

Ligands usually make covalent bonds with their receptors.

Explanation:

Ligands and receptors are both usually proteins. Since proteins can fold into a wide variety of shapes, the receptor-ligand interaction is very specific. In some cases, certain receptors will bind two ligands that are similar in structure. For example, hemoglobin binds to both  and , but binds  with much higher affinity. Ligands bind receptors using only weak bonds (hydrogen bonds and Van der Waals forces). Depending on the nature of the ligand (whether it can cross the lipid bilayer or not), its receptor may be either on the cell's surface, floating in the cytoplasm, or on the nuclear membrane.

Example Question #1 : Transport And Signaling

Which of the following includes the four most common groups of ligands in biology?

Possible Answers:

Inhibitors, activators, neurotransmitters, and tracers

Substrates, activators, neurotransmitters, and tracers

Substrates, inhibitors, neurotransmitters, and tracers

Substrates, inhibitors, activators, and tracers

Substrates, inhibitors, activators, and neurotransmitters

Correct answer:

Substrates, inhibitors, activators, and neurotransmitters

Explanation:

In biochemistry, ligands are any substance that forms a complex with a biomolecule to serve a biological purpose. The four primary types of ligands have their functional state determined by their three-dimensional chemical conformation. Tracers in the body often take the form of radioligands, but are not ligands themselves.

Example Question #41 : Cell Functions

Chemotaxis refers to movement of an organism in response to which of the following stimuli?

Possible Answers:

Vibrations

Gravity

Sound

Light

Chemicals

Correct answer:

Chemicals

Explanation:

Chemotaxis refers to the movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus. Single or multicellular organisms may direct their movements according to certain chemicals in their environment. This is important because these organisms need to find food, flee from harmful substances, and chemotaxis also aids in development. Positive chemotaxis is movement towards a higher concentration of the chemical, whereas negative chemotaxis is movement away from the chemical.  

Example Question #1 : Understanding Cytoplasmic Proteins

In which cellular compartment does glycolysis take place?

Possible Answers:

Golgi apparatus

Intermembrane space

Inner mitochondrial membrane

Mitochondrial matrix

Cytoplasm (Cytosol)

Correct answer:

Cytoplasm (Cytosol)

Explanation:

Glycolysis (the process of breaking down glucose) takes place in the cytoplasm, or cytosol—the aqueous portion of the cytoplasm. It is in the cytoplasm where the enzymes required for glycolysis are found.

The citric acid cycle takes place in the mitochondrial matrix, and the electron transport chain takes place along the inner mitochondrial membrane in order to pump protons into the intermembrane space.

Example Question #43 : Cell Functions

What is the function of a kinase?

Possible Answers:

Change the structure of the ligand

Add ubiquitin to the ligand

Add phosphates to ligands

Remove phosphates from ligands

Correct answer:

Add phosphates to ligands

Explanation:

The addition and removal of phosphate groups can serve critical functions in the regulation of protein activity. The binding or uncoupling of phosphate groups frequently serves to activate or deactivate proteins.

A kinase is an enzyme that phosphorylates—or adds a phosphate group to—its ligand.

A phosphatase removes a phosphate group from its ligand.

Several different types of proteins can change the structure of a ligand, such as isomerases, and ubiquitin ligases add ubiquitin to their ligands.

Example Question #44 : Cell Functions

What is the function of a phosphatase?

Possible Answers:

Add a phosphate to its ligand

Change the structure of its ligand

Add an ubiquitin to its ligand

Remove a phosphate from its ligand

Correct answer:

Remove a phosphate from its ligand

Explanation:

The addition and removal of phosphate groups can serve critical functions in the regulation of protein activity. The binding or uncoupling of phosphate groups frequently serves to activate or deactivate proteins.

A phosphatase removes a phosphate group from its ligand.

A kinase is an enzyme that phosphorylates—or adds a phosphate group to—its ligand.

Several different types of proteins can change the structure of a ligand, such as isomerases, and ubiquitin ligases add ubiquitin to their ligands.

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