Macromolecule Structures and Functions
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Biochemistry › Macromolecule Structures and Functions
Which of the following statements about B DNA are incorrect?
B DNA has a wide and deep major groove and a narrow and shallow minor groove
B DNA is the most commonly found double helical structure
B DNA is right handed with 10 base pairs per turn
B DNA has a diameter of
All of these are correct
Explanation
B DNA has a wide and deep major groove and a narrow and deep minor groove. All other statements regarding B DNA are true.
Which of the following nitrogenous bases is a purine?
Adenine
Cytosine
Thymine
Uracil
Explanation
In DNA and RNA, there are two types of nitrogenous bases: pyrimidines and purines. A pyrimidine contains one carbon-nitrogen ring with two nitrogen atoms. A purine consists of a pyrimidine fused with an imidazole ring. Adenine and guanine are purines. Cytosine, thymine, and uracil are pyrimidines.
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.
If a protein is bonded to ubiquitin, this tells the cell that the protein should be .
degraded
activated
inactivated
elongated
shortened
Explanation
When a protein is damaged, it can be tagged with the molecule, ubiquitin. This signals to the cell that the protein is no longer functioning properly and needs to be degraded.
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.
Which of the following nitrogenous bases is a purine?
Adenine
Cytosine
Thymine
Uracil
Explanation
In DNA and RNA, there are two types of nitrogenous bases: pyrimidines and purines. A pyrimidine contains one carbon-nitrogen ring with two nitrogen atoms. A purine consists of a pyrimidine fused with an imidazole ring. Adenine and guanine are purines. Cytosine, thymine, and uracil are pyrimidines.
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.
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.
An O-linked glycoprotein has a sugar attached to an oxygen atom on what amino acid(s)?
Serine or threonine
Serine only
Methionine only
Methionine or threonine
Threonine only
Explanation
An O-linked glycoprotein is a protein that has a sugar attached to it. It is called O-linked because the sugar is attached to an oxygen atom on either a threonine residue or a serine residue within the protein.
Which proteins are generally water-soluble?
Globular proteins
Fibrous proteins
Both globular fibrous proteins
Neither globular nor fibrous proteins
Explanation
In a globular protein, the amino acid chain can twist in a way that polar groups lie at the protein's surface. This allows the protein to interact with water and enhances the protein's solubility in water. This does not occur in fibrous proteins, so fibrous proteins are insoluble in water.