Identifying Specific Protein Structures

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Biochemistry › Identifying Specific Protein Structures

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1

Which of the following statements best describes high-density lipoproteins as compared to other lipoproteins?

They have the highest protein content

They have more triglycerides than very low-density lipoproteins

They have the most triglycerides and least protein

They have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters

Explanation

High-density lipoproteins have the highest proportion of protein of the five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

2

Identify the given amino acid.

Asparagine

Glutamine

Glycine

Glutamic acid

Asparagine

Aspartic acid

Explanation

Glutamine is one of two amino acids that are amides. The nitrogen bonded to a carbon-oxygen double bond makes it an amide.

3

Which metal ion is complexed at the middle of vitamin B12?

Cobalt

Iron

Zinc

Magnesium

Sulfur

Explanation

Vitamin B12 is also known as cobalamin, and has cobalt at the center of a corrin ring. Cobalt is rarely found in biology, and the synthesis of cobalamin only naturally occurs in bacteria and archaea. For that reason, vitamin B12 has to be ingested in our diet; it is not synthesized in the human body. Iron is found, among other places, in hemoglobin; zinc, in carbonic anhydrase; magnesium, for example, in chlorophyll; and sulfur in iron-sulfur proteins.

4

Identify the given structure.

Phenylalanine

Phenylalanine

Tryptophan

Proline

Histidine

Tyrosine

Explanation

Phenylalanine is a non-polar amino acid. The structure of this amino acid is literally alanine with a phenyl group attached.

5

Which of the following is an acidic amino acid?

Aspartic acid

Threonine

Arginine

Asparagine

Methionine

Explanation

An acidic amino acid must have a carboxyl moiety in its R-group. Because all amino acids contain a carboxyl moiety on the alpha carbon, that acidic group does not determine whether or not the amino acid is considered acidic.

6

Which blood lipoprotein has the lowest density of the lipoproteins?

Chylomicrons

Low-density lipoproteins

Very-low-density lipoproteins

Intermediate density lipoproteins

Explanation

Low-density lipoproteins have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters. There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

7

Disulfide bonds are most important in which level of protein structure?

Two of these

Primary structure

Secondary structure

Quaternary structure

Tertiary structure

Explanation

Disulfide bonds are involved in the tertiary and quaternary structure of proteins, not the other structural levels. Primary structure consists of the amino acid sequence. Secondary structure consists of alpha helices and beta pleated sheets. Tertiary structure consists of bonds between hydrogen bonds between R-groups, nonpolar interactions, electrostatic interactions, and covalent bonds including disulfide bonds. Quaternary structure involves the arrangement of more than one polypeptide into a protein complex, and involves the same bonds as those in tertiary structure.

8

Which of the following is a basic amino acid?

Arginine

Phenylalanine

Cysteine

Methionine

Aspartic acid

Explanation

Bases, according to the Bronsted-Lowry definition, are substances that accept

Arginine is a base

9

Which of the following statements best describes chylomicrons as compared to other lipoproteins?

They have the most triglycerides and least protein

They have the highest content of cholesterol and cholesterol esters

They have the highest protein content

The have a higher density then high-density lipoproteins

Explanation

There are essentially five classes of blood lipoproteins: chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoproteins, intermediate-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, and high-density lipoproteins. Chylomicrons have the lowest density of the five classes of lipoproteins. This is because the have the highest proportion of triglycerides and the least lowest proportion of protein. Very-low-density lipoproteins are a bit more dense than chylomicrons; however, the relative amount of triglycerides is still high. Intermediate-density lipoproteins which are formed from the very-low-density lipoproteins have a higher density than very-low-density lipoproteins due to the fact that they have less than half of the amount of triglycerides as very-low-density lipoproteins. Low-density lipoproteins have the highest amount of cholesterol and an even lesser amount of triglycerides than intermediate-density lipoproteins. Lastly, high-density lipoproteins are the densest of the lipoproteins due to the fact that they have the highest amount of protein in relation to the amount of triglycerides they contain.

10

Which of these are negatively charged amino acids at pH 7?

I. Aspartic acid

II. Glutamic acid

III. Lysine

IV. Arginine

I and II

I, III, and IV

I, II, and III

III and IV

IV only

Explanation

Amino acids are classified based on their charged (polar groups) at neutral pH (pH=7).Lysine (Lys, K), arginine (Arg, R) and histidine (His, H) are positively charged at neutral ph (pH=7), while aspartate and glutamate are negatively charged.

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