WGU C785
Latest Updated Exam 2026/2027
All 266 Questions With Correct Answers
1. What is the basic structure of an amino acid? What do they look like? -
ANSWER-amino group (NH2 or NH3), carboxyl group (COO or COOH),
alpha carbon (C), and variable group
2. How do you identify the 3 different types of side chains: non-
polar/hydrophobic, polar, and charged? - ANSWER-Non-polar/hydrophobic
- end with CH or "can't have" water. Polar - end with OH, SH, or NH.
Charged - end with a charge
3. What kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains make? -
ANSWER-ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
4. What are the 4 levels of protein structure? - ANSWER-Primary - linear
structure, Secondary - Folded into helix or pleated sheet caused by hydrogen
bonding, tertiary - 3D structure caused by side chain interactions, quaternary
- 1+ amino acid chains combine = multiple subunits MUST have 1+ subunit
5. What environmental change breaks each type of bond? - ANSWER-
hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or decreased ph, hydrogen -
temperature, change in ph, disulfide - reducing agents
6. What type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregation? -
ANSWER-hydrophobic bonds
,7. How do environmental changes affect protein folding? - ANSWER-Extreme
temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart = malformation of protein
folding
8. How do mutations affect protein structure? - ANSWER-Can cause structure
to change. Protein loses form = loses function. May form a different protein.
9. What is an electron? - ANSWER-Negatively charged atom on outer ring for
bonding
10.What is energy: - ANSWER-Power derived fro chemical interaction
11.What are covalent bonds? - ANSWER-chemical bond, atoms share 1+
valence electrons
12.What is an ionic bond? - ANSWER-bond between positive and negative
13.What is a hydrogen bond? - ANSWER-weak bond between positive and
negative
14.With an amino? - ANSWER-piece of amino acid, NH2 or NH3
15.What is a carboxyl? - ANSWER-piece of amino acid, COO or COOH
16.What is hydrophobic? - ANSWER-Doesn't like water, end with CH
,17.What is hydrophilic? - ANSWER-Water Lovering, end with OH, NH, or SH
18.What is disulfide bond? - ANSWER-strongest bond between reduction
agents, formed between SH's.
19.What are zwitterions? - ANSWER-amino with positive and negative charges
= overall charge of zero
20.What is a polypeptide - ANSWER-polymer of amino acids
21.What is dehydration synthesis? - ANSWER-Process of forming peptide
bonds
22.What is hydrolysis? - ANSWER-adding water to destroy bonds
23.What is an alpha helix? - ANSWER-twisted secondary structure, formed by
hydrogen bonds
24.What is a beta sheet? - ANSWER-folded second structure shape, formed by
hydrogen bonds
25.What is denaturation? - ANSWER-loss of shape due to interruption of
chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, ph
, 26.What is aggregation? - ANSWER-clumping of inner or outer cellular
proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases such as
Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson's
27.How do enzymes catalyze reactions? - ANSWER-bind with substrates to
decrease activation energy required and decrease reaction rate
28.How do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy? - ANSWER-
decrease activation energy and decrease reaction rate
29.What are the 4 steps of the enzymatic cycle? - ANSWER-enzyme recognizes
substrate, substrate attracts the enzyme; enzyme-substrate complex is
formed; enzyme-product complex formed; product is released, enzyme
recycled
30.How do environmental changes affect enzymes? - ANSWER-High heat, ph
change, high salt concentration, and reducing agents can cause an enzyme to
lose its form/lose function
31.What is a competitive inhibitor? - ANSWER-Mimics substrate and takes its
place on the active binding site
32.What is a noncompetitive inhibitor? - ANSWER-Binds to allosteric site
causing active site to change shape = preventing substrate from binding with
enzyme
33.What molecules increase/build up or decrease given a specific inhibitor? A -
> (enzyme 1) -> B -> (enzyme 2) -> C -> (enzyme 3) -> D. Pretend Enzyme
Latest Updated Exam 2026/2027
All 266 Questions With Correct Answers
1. What is the basic structure of an amino acid? What do they look like? -
ANSWER-amino group (NH2 or NH3), carboxyl group (COO or COOH),
alpha carbon (C), and variable group
2. How do you identify the 3 different types of side chains: non-
polar/hydrophobic, polar, and charged? - ANSWER-Non-polar/hydrophobic
- end with CH or "can't have" water. Polar - end with OH, SH, or NH.
Charged - end with a charge
3. What kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains make? -
ANSWER-ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
4. What are the 4 levels of protein structure? - ANSWER-Primary - linear
structure, Secondary - Folded into helix or pleated sheet caused by hydrogen
bonding, tertiary - 3D structure caused by side chain interactions, quaternary
- 1+ amino acid chains combine = multiple subunits MUST have 1+ subunit
5. What environmental change breaks each type of bond? - ANSWER-
hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or decreased ph, hydrogen -
temperature, change in ph, disulfide - reducing agents
6. What type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregation? -
ANSWER-hydrophobic bonds
,7. How do environmental changes affect protein folding? - ANSWER-Extreme
temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart = malformation of protein
folding
8. How do mutations affect protein structure? - ANSWER-Can cause structure
to change. Protein loses form = loses function. May form a different protein.
9. What is an electron? - ANSWER-Negatively charged atom on outer ring for
bonding
10.What is energy: - ANSWER-Power derived fro chemical interaction
11.What are covalent bonds? - ANSWER-chemical bond, atoms share 1+
valence electrons
12.What is an ionic bond? - ANSWER-bond between positive and negative
13.What is a hydrogen bond? - ANSWER-weak bond between positive and
negative
14.With an amino? - ANSWER-piece of amino acid, NH2 or NH3
15.What is a carboxyl? - ANSWER-piece of amino acid, COO or COOH
16.What is hydrophobic? - ANSWER-Doesn't like water, end with CH
,17.What is hydrophilic? - ANSWER-Water Lovering, end with OH, NH, or SH
18.What is disulfide bond? - ANSWER-strongest bond between reduction
agents, formed between SH's.
19.What are zwitterions? - ANSWER-amino with positive and negative charges
= overall charge of zero
20.What is a polypeptide - ANSWER-polymer of amino acids
21.What is dehydration synthesis? - ANSWER-Process of forming peptide
bonds
22.What is hydrolysis? - ANSWER-adding water to destroy bonds
23.What is an alpha helix? - ANSWER-twisted secondary structure, formed by
hydrogen bonds
24.What is a beta sheet? - ANSWER-folded second structure shape, formed by
hydrogen bonds
25.What is denaturation? - ANSWER-loss of shape due to interruption of
chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, ph
, 26.What is aggregation? - ANSWER-clumping of inner or outer cellular
proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases such as
Alzheimer’s, ALS, Parkinson's
27.How do enzymes catalyze reactions? - ANSWER-bind with substrates to
decrease activation energy required and decrease reaction rate
28.How do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy? - ANSWER-
decrease activation energy and decrease reaction rate
29.What are the 4 steps of the enzymatic cycle? - ANSWER-enzyme recognizes
substrate, substrate attracts the enzyme; enzyme-substrate complex is
formed; enzyme-product complex formed; product is released, enzyme
recycled
30.How do environmental changes affect enzymes? - ANSWER-High heat, ph
change, high salt concentration, and reducing agents can cause an enzyme to
lose its form/lose function
31.What is a competitive inhibitor? - ANSWER-Mimics substrate and takes its
place on the active binding site
32.What is a noncompetitive inhibitor? - ANSWER-Binds to allosteric site
causing active site to change shape = preventing substrate from binding with
enzyme
33.What molecules increase/build up or decrease given a specific inhibitor? A -
> (enzyme 1) -> B -> (enzyme 2) -> C -> (enzyme 3) -> D. Pretend Enzyme
