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Questions 1 - 10
1

Which of the following steps within the citric acid cycle directly produces ATP (or GTP) as a side product?

The conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate

The conversion of citrate to cis-aconitate

The conversion of alpha-ketoglutarate to succinyl-CoA

The conversion of fumarate to malate

The conversion of malate to oxaloacetate

Explanation

The only step of the citric acid cycle (also known as the Krebs cycle, or the TCA cycle) that directly produces ATP or GTP is the conversion of succinyl-CoA to succinate.

In this reaction, succinyl-CoA is converted to succinate with the assistance of the enzyme, succinyl-CoA synthetase. During this reaction, ADP + Pi (or GDP + Pi) is also converted to ATP (or GTP) using the energy from the breaking of the bond between CoA and succinate. Thus, the overall reaction appears as:

While side products of some of the other reactions listed produce intermediaries that may be used to produce ATP in the future, these reactions do not directly produce ATP.

2

In which of the following cases would the citric acid cycle be downregulated?

High levels of ATP

High levels of ADP

Increased amounts of

Lower levels of NADH

Explanation

The purpose of the citric acid cycle is to produce energy (both directly via GTP, and indirectly via NADH and . As such, energy can be though of to be on the products side of the sum of the reactions of the Krebs cycle. From Le Chatelier's principle, we know that if we want to inhibit a forward reaction, we can increase the concentration of the products. This will inhibit the forward reaction, and push the equilibrium to the left. Thus, in a high energy state, the ratio of ATP:ADP, like that of NADH: is high since both ATP and NADH are products of metabolism.

3

Sickle cell anemia is caused by a point mutation in hemoglobin, where a glutamate residue is changed to a valine. Based on this mutation mechanism, what level of protein structure is affected by sickle cell anemia?

Primary structure

Secondary structure

Tertiary structure

Quaternary structure

Explanation

Because an amino acid has been altered in sickle cell anemia, we can say that the amino acid sequence for hemoglobin has been changed. The amino acid sequence is defined as the primary structure for a protein, so that is the level that has been altered. It should be noted that the subsequent levels of protein structure would be altered as well, but the manipulation of the amino acid sequence is a changing of the primary structure first.

4

Amino terminal - Ala - Lys - Glu - Phe - Phe - Ala - Leu - carboxyl terminal.

If the above primary sequence is cleaved by trypsin, on which amino acid will the new amino terminal be?

Glu

Lys

Phe

Ala

Leu

Explanation

Trypsin will cleave the primary sequence after the lysine residue (on its carboxyl side). Thus, Lys will be the new carboxyl terminal and Glu will be the new amino terminal. Remember that a protein's primary sequence is written from N to C.

5

Which of the following is false about the structure and function of ATP synthase?

At least 10 protons pass through ATP synthase in order to make a molecule of ATP.

There are six subunits in its ring.

The rotor has 10 to 14 subunits.

It is a membrane-bound protein.

It synthesizes over 100 ATP molecules per second.

Explanation

ATP synthase can indeed produce more than 100 ATP molecules per second, and in the process, it only requires a few -- three or four -- protons, per ATP. These protons pass down a gradient through the membrane. Hence, the protein is membrane-bound. The protons cause the rotor of 10-14 subunits to spin. The protein's head itself has six subunits, three of which have ADP binding and phosphate binding sites.

6

Amino acids are connected via __________ bonds, which occur between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.

peptide

ionic

hydrogen

double

amino

Explanation

A peptide bond connects two amino acids. This is the result of a condensation reaction (water is lost) and a new nitrogen-carbon bond forms between two amino acids. Note that amino acid synthesis occurs in the direction. Peptide bonds are covalent bonds that are responsible for the primary structure of amino acids.

7

The backbone of a strand of DNA is comprised of which of these?

Sugars and phosphates

Sugars and nucleotides

Nucleotides and phosphates

Sugars only

Nucleotides only

Explanation

The backbone of DNA is made up of alternating phosphate groups and sugar groups, linked together via phosphodiester bonds. The nitrogenous bases jut off of the backbone and form bonds with nitrogenous bases on other strands of DNA to become double stranded. A nucleotide consists of a sugar, nitrogenous base, and one or more phosphate groups.

8

Which of these lipid molecules has a different fundamental structure than the others?

Cholesterol

Fatty acids

Glycolipids

Sphingolipids

Triglyceride

Explanation

Cholesterol is made up of multiple rings, including three six-carbon rings and one five-carbon ring. This characteristic structure is also seen in steroid hormones and metabolites, as many biologically relevant molecules are derived from cholesterol. Fatty acids are long hydrocarbons (typically between ten and thirty carbons long) with carboxylic acid functional groups on one end. Glycolipids are lipids that have carbohydrate moieties attached, which play a role in cellular and molecular communication. Sphingolipids are a class of lipids that contain a sphingoid base backbone and include sphingosine, sphingomyelin, ceramides, gangliosides and others.

9

Which of the following metabolic processes directly requires oxygen?

Electron transport system

Glycolysis

Citric acid cycle

Tricarboxylic acid cycle

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

Explanation

The electron transport system is the only metabolic process listed that directly requires molecular oxygen. Oxygen is the final electron acceptor (it is one of the most electronegative atoms in our bodies) in the electron transport chain. This is the same as saying that oxygen has the highest reduction potential, and is capable of receiving electons. If oxygen is not present to accept the electron from the final enzyme complex in the inner mitochondrial membrane, then electron transport will be inhibited and thus no ATP will be produced via chemiosmosis.

Note that the Krebs cycle, citric acid cycle, and tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) all refer to the same process, and do not directly require oxygen (oxygen is neither a reactant nor a product in any of the steps). However, oxygen is indirectly required, as there is no point to this cycle without subsequent oxidative phosphorylation. Thus in the absence of oxygen, of the choices shown, only glycolysis will proceed uninhibited.

10

Which of the following best explains a quaternary structure of a protein?

Hydrogen and disulfide bonds, two or more polypeptide chains

Hydrogen bonds, alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets

Linear sequence of amino acids

Disulfide bonds, single polypeptide chain

Collagen and myoglobin

Explanation

Primary structure: linear sequence of amino acids

Secondary structure: hydrogen bonds, alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets

Tertiary structure: disulfide bonds, single polypeptide chain

Myoglobin is a monomer, and is made of a single polypeptide chain. Thus, its highest level of protein structure is tertiary. While collagen does contain different polypeptide chains, it is an example of a protein with quaternary structure, not an explanation of what this means.

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