Biochemistry : Identification by Structure

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #292 : Biochemistry

Identify the carbohydrate class of the given molecule.

D ribose

Possible Answers:

Aldopentose

Aldohexose

Aldoquintos

Ketopentose

Ketohexose

Correct answer:

Aldopentose

Explanation:

The structure is an aldopentose. Aldo- refers to the aldehyde at the first carbon and pentose refers to a carbohydrate with five carbons.

Example Question #298 : Biochemistry

Identify the carbohydrate class of the given molecule.

D ribulose

Possible Answers:

Ketohexose

Ketopentose

Aldopentose

Aldohexose

Ketoquintos

Correct answer:

Ketopentose

Explanation:

The structure is a ketopentose. Keto- refers to the ketone at the second carbon and pentose refers to a carbohydrate with five carbons.

Example Question #299 : Biochemistry

Identify the given structure.

D glucose ring

Possible Answers:

L-galactose

D-fructose

L-glucose

D-glucose

D-galactose

Correct answer:

D-glucose

Explanation:

This ring structure is of D-glucose. The hydroxyl group on the first carbon (the carbon to the bottom right of the oxygenin the ring) can face either down (the alpha conformation) or up (the beta conformation). Note that the beta conformer is more thermodynamically stable since all the hydroxyl groups on the ring would be in the equitorial position, thus minimizing steric hinderance and intramolecular electrostatic repulsion.

Example Question #88 : Identifying Biochemical Molecules

Identify the given structure.

D fructose ring

Possible Answers:

D-mannose

D-glucose

D-fructose

D-galactose

D-ribose

Correct answer:

D-fructose

Explanation:

This is the ring/cyclic structure of D-fructose.

Example Question #301 : Biochemistry

Which of the following is the correct structure of a disaccharide?

Possible Answers:

Maltose = sucrose + fructose

Lactose = galactose + galactose

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Sucrose = glucose + glucose

Lactose = galactose + fructose

Correct answer:

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Explanation:

The correct structures of the disaccharides are:

Maltose = glucose + glucose

Sucrose = glucose + fructose

Lactose = glucose + galactose

Example Question #301 : Biochemistry

Which amino acid does this structure represent?

Glutamate

Possible Answers:

Arginine

Asparagine

Glutamate

Aspartate

Glutamine

Correct answer:

Glutamate

Explanation:

The amino acid's R group is composed of an ethyl group, followed by a carboxylate group, and therefore represents glutamate.

Example Question #32 : Identification By Structure

Which amino acid does this structure represent?

Methionine

Possible Answers:

S

M

T

A

Y

Correct answer:

M

Explanation:

The amino acid's chiral carbon is connected to two methyl groups followed, by a sulfur, and finally another methyl group. Therefore, the amino acid is methionine (M).

Example Question #301 : Biochemistry

The amino acid phenylalanine is pictured. If a hydroxyl group was added to the carbon in the red box, which amino acid would the new molecule most closely resemble?

Phenylalanine

Possible Answers:

Tyrosine

Lysine

Alanine

Glysine

Arginine

Correct answer:

Tyrosine

Explanation:

The structure would most closely resembe tyrosine (pictured). 

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Example Question #4 : Identifying Specific Protein Structures

If the phenyl group in the pictured molecule were removed, what amino acid would the new structure most closely resemble? 

Phenylalanine

Possible Answers:

Phenylalanine

Alanine

Tyrosine

Glycine

Valine

Correct answer:

Alanine

Explanation:

Alanine is the amino acid that would be formed by removing the phenyl group from phenylalanine (the pictured molecule).

Example Question #302 : Biochemistry

If the amide group of glutamine (pictured here) was removed and a hydroxyl group was added to the carbon bound to the alpha carbon of the resulting structure, what amino acid would be formed?

Glutamine

Possible Answers:

Methionine

Threonine

Tyrosine

Valine

Cysteine

Correct answer:

Threonine

Explanation:

Threonine (pictured here) would be formed.

 

Threonine

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