CHEM 210 Module 5: Lipids and Lipid Metabolism Exam 2026/2027
UPDATE
1. Which of the following describes a fatty acid that contains at least one double
bond in its hydrocarbon chain?
A. Saturated fatty acid
B. Unsaturated fatty acid
C. Glycerol
D. Steroid
Answer: B
Rationale: Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds, which often create
‘kinks’ in the chain, whereas saturated fatty acids have only single bonds.
2. What is the primary site of triacylglycerol storage in mammals?
A. Liver cells
B. Muscle cells
C. Adipocytes
D. Red blood cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Adipocytes, or fat cells, are specialized for the storage of triacylglycerols as an
energy reserve.
,3. In the nomenclature of fatty acids, what does ‘Omega-3’ indicate?
A. There are three double bonds in total.
B. The first double bond is at the third carbon from the carboxyl end.
C. The first double bond is at the third carbon from the methyl end.
D. The fatty acid chain is only three carbons long.
Answer: C
Rationale: The omega notation counts carbons starting from the methyl (omega) end of
the fatty acid chain.
4. Which molecule is used to transport long-chain fatty acids into the
mitochondrial matrix for beta-oxidation?
A. Creatine
B. Carnitine
C. Citrate
D. Coenzyme A
Answer: B
Rationale: The carnitine shuttle is the mechanism that transports long-chain fatty acyl-CoA
into the mitochondria.
5. How many carbons are removed from a fatty acid chain during each cycle of
beta-oxidation?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 2
D. 4
Answer: C
Rationale: Each cycle of beta-oxidation removes a two-carbon unit in the form of Acetyl-
CoA.
, 6. Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step in fatty acid synthesis?
A. Fatty acid synthase
B. Thiolase
C. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
D. Pyruvate dehydrogenase
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) converts acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is the
regulated, rate-limiting step of fatty acid synthesis.
7. Which of the following is considered a ‘ketone body’ produced during
prolonged fasting?
A. Pyruvate
B. Oxaloacetate
C. Lactate
D. Acetoacetate
Answer: D
Rationale: The three ketone bodies are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone.
8. Where does the process of fatty acid synthesis primarily occur within the cell?
A. Mitochondrial matrix
B. Cytosol
C. Nucleus
D. Lysosome
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike beta-oxidation which occurs in the mitochondria, fatty acid synthesis
occurs in the cytoplasm (cytosol).
UPDATE
1. Which of the following describes a fatty acid that contains at least one double
bond in its hydrocarbon chain?
A. Saturated fatty acid
B. Unsaturated fatty acid
C. Glycerol
D. Steroid
Answer: B
Rationale: Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds, which often create
‘kinks’ in the chain, whereas saturated fatty acids have only single bonds.
2. What is the primary site of triacylglycerol storage in mammals?
A. Liver cells
B. Muscle cells
C. Adipocytes
D. Red blood cells
Answer: C
Rationale: Adipocytes, or fat cells, are specialized for the storage of triacylglycerols as an
energy reserve.
,3. In the nomenclature of fatty acids, what does ‘Omega-3’ indicate?
A. There are three double bonds in total.
B. The first double bond is at the third carbon from the carboxyl end.
C. The first double bond is at the third carbon from the methyl end.
D. The fatty acid chain is only three carbons long.
Answer: C
Rationale: The omega notation counts carbons starting from the methyl (omega) end of
the fatty acid chain.
4. Which molecule is used to transport long-chain fatty acids into the
mitochondrial matrix for beta-oxidation?
A. Creatine
B. Carnitine
C. Citrate
D. Coenzyme A
Answer: B
Rationale: The carnitine shuttle is the mechanism that transports long-chain fatty acyl-CoA
into the mitochondria.
5. How many carbons are removed from a fatty acid chain during each cycle of
beta-oxidation?
A. 1
B. 3
C. 2
D. 4
Answer: C
Rationale: Each cycle of beta-oxidation removes a two-carbon unit in the form of Acetyl-
CoA.
, 6. Which enzyme catalyzes the rate-limiting step in fatty acid synthesis?
A. Fatty acid synthase
B. Thiolase
C. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase
D. Pyruvate dehydrogenase
Answer: C
Rationale: Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) converts acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA, which is the
regulated, rate-limiting step of fatty acid synthesis.
7. Which of the following is considered a ‘ketone body’ produced during
prolonged fasting?
A. Pyruvate
B. Oxaloacetate
C. Lactate
D. Acetoacetate
Answer: D
Rationale: The three ketone bodies are acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone.
8. Where does the process of fatty acid synthesis primarily occur within the cell?
A. Mitochondrial matrix
B. Cytosol
C. Nucleus
D. Lysosome
Answer: B
Rationale: Unlike beta-oxidation which occurs in the mitochondria, fatty acid synthesis
occurs in the cytoplasm (cytosol).
