120:360 - Biochemistry

Fall 2015
Sample questions for Exam 1
1)

What is the net charge on the following peptide at pH = 7?

N- [alanine]-[alanine]-[valine]-[lysine]-[leucine]-[aspartic acid]-[lysine]-C
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

0
-1
-2
+1
+2

2)

An allosteric interaction between small molecules and proteins is one in which:

a. two different molecules can bind to the same binding site on the protein.
b. more than one copy of a molecule can bind to one binding site on the protein.
c. the binding of a molecule to a binding site on the protein affects the binding of an additional
molecule to the same site on the protein.
d. the binding of a molecule to one binding site on the protein affects the binding of a molecule to
another site on the protein.
e. actually, allosteric interactions do not occur with proteins.

3)

A molecule of 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate

a. binds to each of the 4 subunits of hemoglobin
b. binds to a region of hemoglobin with multiple positively charged R groups.
c. changes the affinity of binding of O2 when it binds to hemoglobin
d. both a and c
e. both b and c

4)

Gangliosides contain
a. lipid
b. carbohydrate
c. protein
d. both a and b
e. both a and c

5)

In a peptide bond there are 6 atoms which are co-planar. How many of these are carbon?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
e. 5

6)

An example of a non-polar molecule which is transported in the blood inside lipoproteins is

a. cholesterol
b. cholesterol esters
c. cholic acid
d. choline
e. phosphatidyl choline

7)

In the following peptide, which of the bonds indicated by the arrows does not have free rotation? [Hint:
make sure to look at the R groups.]
1

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
8)

only 1
only 2
only 3
all of the 3 have free rotation
none of the 3 have free rotation

The following picture illustrates the formation of hydrophobic interactions between non-polar molecules in
water.

The picture shows that the stability of the hydrophobic interaction can be explained by
a. increased entropy of the non-polar molecules
b. decreased entropy of the non-polar molecules
c. increased entropy of the water molecules
d. decreased entropy of the water molecules
e. none of the above is shown in the picture
9)

The binding of an O2 molecule to one of the binding sites on hemoglobin can trigger a transition to a larger
Ka for O2 binding at the other binding sites. This transition involves a change in the
a. number of subunits in each protein molecule
b. number of binding sites in each protein molecule
c. amino acid sequence of the subunits
d. arrangement of the subunits in each protein molecule
e. both a and b

10) What are the following molecules?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

forms of alanine
resonance forms
stereoisomers
both a and b
both a and c
2

11) From the following diagram, determine which of the following pairs of angles of rotation (,) approximate
those of the amino acids of a parallel -sheet

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

+45,+45
-60,-45
-60,+120
-120,+105
-135,+135

12) What feature(s) of protein structure is(are) illustrated by the following picture?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

-helix
multiple subunits
domains
both a and b
both a and c

13) In the following graph, what is the value of at the position indicated by the arrow?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Kd
Kd/2
Ka
Ka/2
none of the above

14) The following picture shows the structure of phosphatidyl choline. How many carbon-carbon double
bonds does it contain?

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

0
1
2
3
cannot be determined

15) The interior of this structure (arrow) is not likely to contain

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

hydrophobic molecules
non-polar molecules
triglycerides
cholesterol esters
water

16) Which type of covalent bond can be found in all proteins?

a. ester
b. phosphate ester
c. thioester
d. amide
e. anhydride

17) A difference in the ratio of protein to lipid results in the difference in ________ of the classes of
lipoproteins
a. molecular weight
b. location in the body
c. density
d. concentrations
e. solubility
18) The restricted free rotation around the peptide bond results from its
a. resonance structure
b. stereochemical configuration
c. electronegativity
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
19) The following amino acid structure can never exist because

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

it would not be soluble in water

the pKa of the carboxyl is much lower than the pKa of the amino group
the carboxyl and amino groups are polar whereas the R group is non-polar
the carboxyl and amino groups must be co-planar
it doesnt have an R group

20) You obtain a sample of hemoglobin from a friend and measure the binding of O2 at various pHs. You
obtain the results shown in the graph below. Which curve is at the lowest pH?

[O2]

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

A
B
C
actually there must be a mistake because pH shouldnt make a difference.
actually there must be a mistake because these look like myoglobin binding curves.
5