WGU C785 BIOCHEMISTRY COMPREHENSIVE
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
◉ 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
◉ what kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains
make? Answer: ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
◉ 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
◉ What enviormental change breaks each type of bond? Answer:
hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or decreased pH,
hydrogen - temperature, change in pH, disulfide - reducing agents
,◉ what type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregration?
Answer: hydrophobic bonds
◉ how do environmental changes affect protein folding? Answer:
Extreme temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart = malformation
of protein folding
◉ how do mutations affect protein structure? Answer: Can cause
structure to change. Protein loses form = loses function. May form a
different protein.
◉ What is an electron? Answer: Negatively charged atom on outer ring
for bonding
◉ What is energy:. Answer: Power derived fro chemical interaction
◉ what are covalent bonds? Answer: chemical bond, atoms share 1+
valence electrons
◉ what is an ionic bond? Answer: bond between positive and negative
◉ what is a hydrogen bond? Answer: weak bond between positive and
negative
,◉ with an amino? Answer: piece of amino acid, NH2 or NH3
◉ what is a carboyxl? Answer: piece of amino acid, COO or COOH
◉ What is hydrophobic? Answer: Doesn't like water, end with CH
◉ what is hydrophilic? Answer: Water Lovering, end with OH, NH, or
SH
◉ what is disulfide bond? Answer: strongest bond between reduction
agents, formed between SH's.
◉ what are zwitterions? Answer: amino with positive and negative
charges = overall charge of zero
◉ what is a polypeptide. Answer: polymer of amino acids
◉ What is dehydration synthesis? Answer: Process of forming peptide
bonds
◉ what is hydrolysis? Answer: adding water to destroy bonds
, ◉ what is an alpha helix? Answer: twisted secondary structure, formed
by hydrogen bonds
◉ what is a beta sheet? Answer: folded second structure shape, formed
by hydrogen bonds
◉ what is denaturation? Answer: loss of shape duet o interruption of
chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, pH
◉ what is aggregation? Answer: clumping of inner or outer cellular
proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases such as
Alzheimers, ALS, Parkinson's
◉ how do enzymes catalyze reactions? Answer: bind with substrates to
decrease activation energy required and decrease reaction rate
◉ how do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy? Answer:
decrease activation energy and decrease reaction rate
◉ 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
EXAM 2026 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
CORRECT
◉ 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
◉ what kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains
make? Answer: ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
◉ 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
◉ What enviormental change breaks each type of bond? Answer:
hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or decreased pH,
hydrogen - temperature, change in pH, disulfide - reducing agents
,◉ what type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregration?
Answer: hydrophobic bonds
◉ how do environmental changes affect protein folding? Answer:
Extreme temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart = malformation
of protein folding
◉ how do mutations affect protein structure? Answer: Can cause
structure to change. Protein loses form = loses function. May form a
different protein.
◉ What is an electron? Answer: Negatively charged atom on outer ring
for bonding
◉ What is energy:. Answer: Power derived fro chemical interaction
◉ what are covalent bonds? Answer: chemical bond, atoms share 1+
valence electrons
◉ what is an ionic bond? Answer: bond between positive and negative
◉ what is a hydrogen bond? Answer: weak bond between positive and
negative
,◉ with an amino? Answer: piece of amino acid, NH2 or NH3
◉ what is a carboyxl? Answer: piece of amino acid, COO or COOH
◉ What is hydrophobic? Answer: Doesn't like water, end with CH
◉ what is hydrophilic? Answer: Water Lovering, end with OH, NH, or
SH
◉ what is disulfide bond? Answer: strongest bond between reduction
agents, formed between SH's.
◉ what are zwitterions? Answer: amino with positive and negative
charges = overall charge of zero
◉ what is a polypeptide. Answer: polymer of amino acids
◉ What is dehydration synthesis? Answer: Process of forming peptide
bonds
◉ what is hydrolysis? Answer: adding water to destroy bonds
, ◉ what is an alpha helix? Answer: twisted secondary structure, formed
by hydrogen bonds
◉ what is a beta sheet? Answer: folded second structure shape, formed
by hydrogen bonds
◉ what is denaturation? Answer: loss of shape duet o interruption of
chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, pH
◉ what is aggregation? Answer: clumping of inner or outer cellular
proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases such as
Alzheimers, ALS, Parkinson's
◉ how do enzymes catalyze reactions? Answer: bind with substrates to
decrease activation energy required and decrease reaction rate
◉ how do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy? Answer:
decrease activation energy and decrease reaction rate
◉ 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
