WGU C785 Biochemistry OA UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Which level of protein structure is disrupted through the hydrolysis of peptide bonds?
Quaternary
Tertiary
Primary
Secondary - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary
The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide bonds.
Peptide bonds are formed by dehydration reactions and disrupted by hydrolysis.
A mutation in the beta-hemoglobin gene, which results in the replacement of the amino acid
glutamate in position 6 with the amino acid valine, leads to the development of sickle cell
anemia. The structures of glutamate and valine are shown below.
If the beta hemoglobin gene in a patient with sickle-cell anemia were to be edited so that the
valine in position 6 was replaced with a different amino acid, which replacement for valine
would be expected to have the best clinical outcome, in theory, for the patient? (Assume the
valine can potentially be replaced with any amino acid other than glutamate.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The original amino acid in a healthy patient is glutamate, which is negatively
charged. The mutated amino acid is valine, which is non-polar. Valine is causing sickle cell
anemia. The best amino acid to replace valine so that the patient is healthy again would be the
one most like glutamate, so any negatively charged amino acid.
Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels of protein structure can all be impacted by exposing a
protein to which treatment?
,Change of a hydrophobic amino acid to a different hydrophobic amino acid
Addition of a reducing agent
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Increase in the concentration of the protein in solution - CORRECT ANSWER -
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Changes in pH affect hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds in the backbone of
amino acids occur in secondary structure, and both hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds occur in the
side chains of amino acids in tertiary structure.
An increase in beta-pleated sheet structure in some brain proteins can lead to an increase in
amyloid deposit formation, characteristic of some neurodegenerative diseases. What is the
primary biochemical process that follows the increase in beta-pleated sheet structure that leads to
the development of the amyloid deposits?
An increase in glycogen formation in the brain cells
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
Secretion of glucagon, leading to excessive ketogenesis
An increase in anaerobic metabolism of glucose in the brain - CORRECT ANSWER -
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
This question is describing changes in protein structure. Aggregation occurs when proteins
clump together inappropriately, causing plaques like amyloid deposits to accumulate.
,Which level of protein structure is determined by the sequence of amino acids?
Secondary structure
Quaternary structure
Tertiary structure
Primary structure - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary structure
The primary structure of a protein is simply the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide
bonds.
Which force is most influential in determining the secondary structure of a protein?
Hydrophobic effect
Disulfide bonding
Hydrogen bonding
Electrostatic interactions - CORRECT ANSWER - Hydrogen bonding
The secondary structure of a protein is built by hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl groups and
amino groups on the backbones of the amino acids.
Which amino acid would most likely participate in hydrogen bonds? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Amino Acid structure 4
, This is a polar, uncharged amino acid due to the OH group on the side chain. Polar, uncharged
amino acids containing oxygen or NH groups make hydrogen bonds.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is surrounding the section below the Alpha Carbon - CORRECT ANSWER - Side
Chain
The side chain is the variable group of the amino acid, also called the R group. Every amino acid
has the same amino group, carboxylic acid group, and an alpha carbon, but the side chain is
different.
Which pair of amino acids will most likely interact through hydrophobic forces between their
side chains? - CORRECT ANSWER - Both of these amino acids are non-polar and
therefore can interact together with a hydrophobic interaction. Please note that the "S" in the
amino acid on the right is non-polar, while the "SH" group in answer choice D is polar. The S
must have an H to be polar and is otherwise non-polar.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is over the Carbon at the Center of the chain - CORRECT ANSWER - Alpha
Carbon
The alpha carbon is the central carbon on an amino acid that holds together the other groups of
the amino acid. It is always attached to the amino group, the carboxyl group, the side chain, and
a single hydrogen. It is part of the backbone of the amino acid and is found in every amino acid.
Given the following amino acid structure, what is the strongest intermolecular force it would
participate in to stabilize a protein structure?
Ionic bond
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Which level of protein structure is disrupted through the hydrolysis of peptide bonds?
Quaternary
Tertiary
Primary
Secondary - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary
The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide bonds.
Peptide bonds are formed by dehydration reactions and disrupted by hydrolysis.
A mutation in the beta-hemoglobin gene, which results in the replacement of the amino acid
glutamate in position 6 with the amino acid valine, leads to the development of sickle cell
anemia. The structures of glutamate and valine are shown below.
If the beta hemoglobin gene in a patient with sickle-cell anemia were to be edited so that the
valine in position 6 was replaced with a different amino acid, which replacement for valine
would be expected to have the best clinical outcome, in theory, for the patient? (Assume the
valine can potentially be replaced with any amino acid other than glutamate.) - CORRECT
ANSWER - The original amino acid in a healthy patient is glutamate, which is negatively
charged. The mutated amino acid is valine, which is non-polar. Valine is causing sickle cell
anemia. The best amino acid to replace valine so that the patient is healthy again would be the
one most like glutamate, so any negatively charged amino acid.
Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels of protein structure can all be impacted by exposing a
protein to which treatment?
,Change of a hydrophobic amino acid to a different hydrophobic amino acid
Addition of a reducing agent
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Increase in the concentration of the protein in solution - CORRECT ANSWER -
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Changes in pH affect hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds in the backbone of
amino acids occur in secondary structure, and both hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds occur in the
side chains of amino acids in tertiary structure.
An increase in beta-pleated sheet structure in some brain proteins can lead to an increase in
amyloid deposit formation, characteristic of some neurodegenerative diseases. What is the
primary biochemical process that follows the increase in beta-pleated sheet structure that leads to
the development of the amyloid deposits?
An increase in glycogen formation in the brain cells
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
Secretion of glucagon, leading to excessive ketogenesis
An increase in anaerobic metabolism of glucose in the brain - CORRECT ANSWER -
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
This question is describing changes in protein structure. Aggregation occurs when proteins
clump together inappropriately, causing plaques like amyloid deposits to accumulate.
,Which level of protein structure is determined by the sequence of amino acids?
Secondary structure
Quaternary structure
Tertiary structure
Primary structure - CORRECT ANSWER - Primary structure
The primary structure of a protein is simply the sequence of amino acids held together by peptide
bonds.
Which force is most influential in determining the secondary structure of a protein?
Hydrophobic effect
Disulfide bonding
Hydrogen bonding
Electrostatic interactions - CORRECT ANSWER - Hydrogen bonding
The secondary structure of a protein is built by hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl groups and
amino groups on the backbones of the amino acids.
Which amino acid would most likely participate in hydrogen bonds? - CORRECT
ANSWER - Amino Acid structure 4
, This is a polar, uncharged amino acid due to the OH group on the side chain. Polar, uncharged
amino acids containing oxygen or NH groups make hydrogen bonds.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is surrounding the section below the Alpha Carbon - CORRECT ANSWER - Side
Chain
The side chain is the variable group of the amino acid, also called the R group. Every amino acid
has the same amino group, carboxylic acid group, and an alpha carbon, but the side chain is
different.
Which pair of amino acids will most likely interact through hydrophobic forces between their
side chains? - CORRECT ANSWER - Both of these amino acids are non-polar and
therefore can interact together with a hydrophobic interaction. Please note that the "S" in the
amino acid on the right is non-polar, while the "SH" group in answer choice D is polar. The S
must have an H to be polar and is otherwise non-polar.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is over the Carbon at the Center of the chain - CORRECT ANSWER - Alpha
Carbon
The alpha carbon is the central carbon on an amino acid that holds together the other groups of
the amino acid. It is always attached to the amino group, the carboxyl group, the side chain, and
a single hydrogen. It is part of the backbone of the amino acid and is found in every amino acid.
Given the following amino acid structure, what is the strongest intermolecular force it would
participate in to stabilize a protein structure?
Ionic bond
