©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
MURPHY 301 EXAM INTRODUCTION TO
BIOCHEMISTRY Exam Questions And
Answers 2025 Update.
The side chain of histidine has a typical pKa value in the range of 6.5-7.4. However, when
analyzing the pKa values in a particular protein, scientists determined that one particular His
residue has an unusually low pKa value of 4.8. Which of the following statements correctly
explain this anomaly?
1) The microenvironment around a residue can impact its pKa value.
2) A positively charged amino acid must be in close proximity to this residue.
3) A negatively charged amino acid must be in close proximity to this residue.
4) This residue must be located on the surface of the protein. - Answer✔Statement 1 and 2
The side chain of ________ has a pKa in the physiological pH range and is therefore often
involved in proton transfer during enzymatic catalysis. - Answer✔Histidine
All amino acids have a chiral α-carbon EXCEPT ________. - Answer✔glycine
Which of the following statements regarding Anfinsen's denaturing experiments with
ribonuclease A are valid?
1) Exposing the denatured protein to air oxidation and then dialysis to remove urea restored
the protein to its original functionality.
2) Removing urea by dialysis and then allowing air oxidation of the denatured protein restored
the protein to its original functionality.
1
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
3) Denaturing the protein with both urea and β-mercaptoethanol yielded an inactive protein.
4) Protein folding is determined by its primary sequence. - Answer✔Only statements 2, 3, and 4
are valid.
Which of the following statements about protein quaternary structure are correct?
1) It involves a complex of two or more proteins interacting with each other.
2) The subunits of the structure can be either identical or different.
3) The interactions between subunits can give rise to indefinite growth of polymeric complexes.
4) Most assemblies of protein subunits have one or more defined axis of rotation. - Answer✔All
statements are correct.
In general, enzymes are what kinds of molecules?
proteins
minerals
carbohydrates
lipids
nucleic acids - Answer✔proteins
The basic building blocks of proteins are _______ - Answer✔amino acids
All amino acids are composed what three things attached to it? - Answer✔central α-carbon that
has an amine group
a carboxylic acid group
and an R group
All amino acids except _______ are chiral with the two isomer forms known as the L-isomer and
the D-isomer. - Answer✔glycine
The ____ is the only isomer known to be incorporated into proteins. - Answer✔L-isomer
This ionic state, where the carboxylic acid is negative and the amine group is positive, is known
as the __________ state - Answer✔zwitterionic state
What are the N-terminal and C-terminal residues for the following peptide sequence?
Peptide sequence: EASY - Answer✔E is the N-terminal residue; Y is the C-terminal residue.
Ultimate source of energy for life on earth is:
2
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
A. Sun
B. Geothermal heat
C. Carbohydrates
D. Fats
E. Other organisms - Answer✔Sun
Which is not a common component of biomolecules?
A. Carbon
B. Hydrogen
C. Oxygen
D. Nitrogen
E. Chlorine - Answer✔Chlorine
Which is a basic structural unit of living organisms?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell membrane
C. Tissue
D. Cell
E. Cytoskeleton - Answer✔Cell
Which of the following is not an organelle?
A. Mitochondria
B. Chloroplast
C. Nucleus
D. Plasma Membrane
E. Golgi Complex - Answer✔Plasma Membrane
Which of the following is not a role played by carbohydrates in living cells?
A. Energy source
B. Structural support
C. Intercellular communication
D. Both A and B
3
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
E. All roles are played - Answer✔All roles are played by carbohydrates in living cells
Metabolism is best defined as the...
A. Reactions of living cells
B. Reactions that synthesize large molecules in living cells
C. Reactions that degrade molecules in living cells
D. Conversion of food molecules to energy
E. Reactions that synthesize and degrade molecules in living cells - Answer✔E. Reactions that
synthesize and degrade molecules in living cells
The average life span of a species is about ________years
A) One million
B) Ten million
C) Five hundred thousand
D) Five million
E) One hundred thousand - Answer✔A. One million
Which of the following is not a waste product of living organisms
A) Carbon dioxide
B) Water
C) Urea
D) Ammonia
E) Glycine - Answer✔E. Glycine
Biochemistry is defined as
A) The study of life processes
B) The study of the molecular basis of life
C) The study of living organisms
D) The study of organic compounds in living organisms
4
MURPHY 301 EXAM INTRODUCTION TO
BIOCHEMISTRY Exam Questions And
Answers 2025 Update.
The side chain of histidine has a typical pKa value in the range of 6.5-7.4. However, when
analyzing the pKa values in a particular protein, scientists determined that one particular His
residue has an unusually low pKa value of 4.8. Which of the following statements correctly
explain this anomaly?
1) The microenvironment around a residue can impact its pKa value.
2) A positively charged amino acid must be in close proximity to this residue.
3) A negatively charged amino acid must be in close proximity to this residue.
4) This residue must be located on the surface of the protein. - Answer✔Statement 1 and 2
The side chain of ________ has a pKa in the physiological pH range and is therefore often
involved in proton transfer during enzymatic catalysis. - Answer✔Histidine
All amino acids have a chiral α-carbon EXCEPT ________. - Answer✔glycine
Which of the following statements regarding Anfinsen's denaturing experiments with
ribonuclease A are valid?
1) Exposing the denatured protein to air oxidation and then dialysis to remove urea restored
the protein to its original functionality.
2) Removing urea by dialysis and then allowing air oxidation of the denatured protein restored
the protein to its original functionality.
1
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
3) Denaturing the protein with both urea and β-mercaptoethanol yielded an inactive protein.
4) Protein folding is determined by its primary sequence. - Answer✔Only statements 2, 3, and 4
are valid.
Which of the following statements about protein quaternary structure are correct?
1) It involves a complex of two or more proteins interacting with each other.
2) The subunits of the structure can be either identical or different.
3) The interactions between subunits can give rise to indefinite growth of polymeric complexes.
4) Most assemblies of protein subunits have one or more defined axis of rotation. - Answer✔All
statements are correct.
In general, enzymes are what kinds of molecules?
proteins
minerals
carbohydrates
lipids
nucleic acids - Answer✔proteins
The basic building blocks of proteins are _______ - Answer✔amino acids
All amino acids are composed what three things attached to it? - Answer✔central α-carbon that
has an amine group
a carboxylic acid group
and an R group
All amino acids except _______ are chiral with the two isomer forms known as the L-isomer and
the D-isomer. - Answer✔glycine
The ____ is the only isomer known to be incorporated into proteins. - Answer✔L-isomer
This ionic state, where the carboxylic acid is negative and the amine group is positive, is known
as the __________ state - Answer✔zwitterionic state
What are the N-terminal and C-terminal residues for the following peptide sequence?
Peptide sequence: EASY - Answer✔E is the N-terminal residue; Y is the C-terminal residue.
Ultimate source of energy for life on earth is:
2
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
A. Sun
B. Geothermal heat
C. Carbohydrates
D. Fats
E. Other organisms - Answer✔Sun
Which is not a common component of biomolecules?
A. Carbon
B. Hydrogen
C. Oxygen
D. Nitrogen
E. Chlorine - Answer✔Chlorine
Which is a basic structural unit of living organisms?
A. Nucleus
B. Cell membrane
C. Tissue
D. Cell
E. Cytoskeleton - Answer✔Cell
Which of the following is not an organelle?
A. Mitochondria
B. Chloroplast
C. Nucleus
D. Plasma Membrane
E. Golgi Complex - Answer✔Plasma Membrane
Which of the following is not a role played by carbohydrates in living cells?
A. Energy source
B. Structural support
C. Intercellular communication
D. Both A and B
3
, ©FYNDLAY 2024/2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1:52PM.
E. All roles are played - Answer✔All roles are played by carbohydrates in living cells
Metabolism is best defined as the...
A. Reactions of living cells
B. Reactions that synthesize large molecules in living cells
C. Reactions that degrade molecules in living cells
D. Conversion of food molecules to energy
E. Reactions that synthesize and degrade molecules in living cells - Answer✔E. Reactions that
synthesize and degrade molecules in living cells
The average life span of a species is about ________years
A) One million
B) Ten million
C) Five hundred thousand
D) Five million
E) One hundred thousand - Answer✔A. One million
Which of the following is not a waste product of living organisms
A) Carbon dioxide
B) Water
C) Urea
D) Ammonia
E) Glycine - Answer✔E. Glycine
Biochemistry is defined as
A) The study of life processes
B) The study of the molecular basis of life
C) The study of living organisms
D) The study of organic compounds in living organisms
4
