PORTAGE LEARNING BIOCHEM MODULE 2
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
PRACTICE SOLUTION VERIFIED RESULTS
◉ Define transport function of proteins and example.
Answer: helps to move molecules around the cell and organism, ex:
Hemoglobin is a blood-based protein that carries oxygen from the
lungs to tissue
◉ Define hormone function of proteins and example.
Answer: Hormones communicate messages between cells, ex:
relaxin is a protein hormone that helps women relax pelvic
ligaments during childbirth
◉ Define catalysis function of proteins and example.
Answer: Enzymes speed up or catalyze chemical rxns, ex: protease
enzyme breaks down proteins in cells to help organisms recycle
unneeded proteins
◉ Define structure function of proteins and example.
Answer: Proteins give strength to cells, organelles and tissues, ex:
collagen is the structural protein in cartilage, skin and tendons
,◉ Define amino acids.
Answer: building blocks of proteins
◉ What functional groups do amino acids contain?.
Answer: amine and carboxylic acid
◉ What permits all amino acids to link together in a protein?.
Answer: Each amino acid having the same groups
◉ What is the R group in an amino acid and how are they grouped?.
Answer: Side chain of the amino acid; there are 20 different side
chains that differ in composition/size/charge so side chains are
grouped by charge, size and polarity
◉ What pH do amino acids exist at?.
Answer: 7.4
◉ What do amino acids lose and gain at pH of 7.4?.
Answer: Lose the carboxylic acid H group and gain an extra proton
(NH3+)
◉ Name the 5 sets of amino acids.
, Answer: Non-polar aliphatic, non-polar aromatic, polar neutral,
acidic, basic
◉ Define non-polar aliphatic amino acids.
Answer: Straight chain amino acids
◉ Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids.
Answer: glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A), proline (Pro, P), valine (Val,
V), leucine (Leu, L), isoleucine (Ile, I), methionine (Met, M)
◉ Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids in abbreviations.
Answer: Gly, Ala, Val, Pro, Leu, Ile, Met
◉ Describe aliphatic amino acids and their location in proteins.
Answer: Relatively small which allows them to interact with other
groups, found in interior of protein away from water with other
aliphatic groups (fold together)
◉ Why is proline unique?.
Answer: its side chain makes a ring by bonding with its main chain
nitrogen
EXAM PREP QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
PRACTICE SOLUTION VERIFIED RESULTS
◉ Define transport function of proteins and example.
Answer: helps to move molecules around the cell and organism, ex:
Hemoglobin is a blood-based protein that carries oxygen from the
lungs to tissue
◉ Define hormone function of proteins and example.
Answer: Hormones communicate messages between cells, ex:
relaxin is a protein hormone that helps women relax pelvic
ligaments during childbirth
◉ Define catalysis function of proteins and example.
Answer: Enzymes speed up or catalyze chemical rxns, ex: protease
enzyme breaks down proteins in cells to help organisms recycle
unneeded proteins
◉ Define structure function of proteins and example.
Answer: Proteins give strength to cells, organelles and tissues, ex:
collagen is the structural protein in cartilage, skin and tendons
,◉ Define amino acids.
Answer: building blocks of proteins
◉ What functional groups do amino acids contain?.
Answer: amine and carboxylic acid
◉ What permits all amino acids to link together in a protein?.
Answer: Each amino acid having the same groups
◉ What is the R group in an amino acid and how are they grouped?.
Answer: Side chain of the amino acid; there are 20 different side
chains that differ in composition/size/charge so side chains are
grouped by charge, size and polarity
◉ What pH do amino acids exist at?.
Answer: 7.4
◉ What do amino acids lose and gain at pH of 7.4?.
Answer: Lose the carboxylic acid H group and gain an extra proton
(NH3+)
◉ Name the 5 sets of amino acids.
, Answer: Non-polar aliphatic, non-polar aromatic, polar neutral,
acidic, basic
◉ Define non-polar aliphatic amino acids.
Answer: Straight chain amino acids
◉ Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids.
Answer: glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A), proline (Pro, P), valine (Val,
V), leucine (Leu, L), isoleucine (Ile, I), methionine (Met, M)
◉ Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids in abbreviations.
Answer: Gly, Ala, Val, Pro, Leu, Ile, Met
◉ Describe aliphatic amino acids and their location in proteins.
Answer: Relatively small which allows them to interact with other
groups, found in interior of protein away from water with other
aliphatic groups (fold together)
◉ Why is proline unique?.
Answer: its side chain makes a ring by bonding with its main chain
nitrogen
