CHEM 210 BIOCHEMISTRY FINAL
EXAM ADVANCED STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
UPDATE || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
1. Which of the following amino acids contains a side chain that is most likely to be found in
the interior of a globular protein in an aqueous environment?
A. Serine
B. Aspartic Acid
C. Arginine
D. Isoleucine
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Isoleucine is a branched-chain hydrophobic amino acid. In
aqueous environments, hydrophobic side chains are buried in the protein core to minimize
contact with water (hydrophobic effect).
2. Calculate the approximate isoelectric point (pI) of Glutamic Acid given its pKa values:
pKa1=2.19, pKa2=9.67, and pKaR=4.25.
A. 5.93
B. 6.96
,C. 3.22
D. 4.25
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: For acidic amino acids, the pI is calculated by averaging the two
lowest pKa values: (2.19 + 4.25) / 2 = 3.22.
3. In the Michaelis-Menten model, what happens to Vmax and Km in the presence of a
competitive inhibitor?
A. Vmax decreases, Km stays the same
B. Vmax decreases, Km decreases
C. Vmax stays the same, Km increases
D. Vmax increases, Km increases
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site, increasing the
concentration of substrate needed to reach half-maximal velocity (Km increases), but Vmax
remains unchanged because sufficient substrate can outcompete the inhibitor.
4. Which enzyme in glycolysis catalyzes the first ‘committed step’ and is the primary
regulatory site of the pathway?
A. Hexokinase
B. Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)
, C. Pyruvate Kinase
D. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: PFK-1 catalyzes the phosphorylation of Fructose-6-phosphate to
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. It is the rate-limiting and major regulatory step of glycolysis.
5. How many net molecules of ATP are produced by the complete aerobic oxidation of one
molecule of glucose in a heart muscle cell (using the malate-aspartate shuttle)?
A. 30
B. 32
C. 36
D. 38
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Using the malate-aspartate shuttle (common in heart/liver), the
total yield is approximately 32 ATP per glucose. The glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle yields 30
ATP.
6. Which intermediate of the Citric Acid Cycle is also a precursor for the synthesis of heme?
A. Alpha-ketoglutarate
B. Succinyl-CoA
C. Oxaloacetate
EXAM ADVANCED STUDY GUIDE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
UPDATE || 100% GUARANTEED PASS
1. Which of the following amino acids contains a side chain that is most likely to be found in
the interior of a globular protein in an aqueous environment?
A. Serine
B. Aspartic Acid
C. Arginine
D. Isoleucine
Answer: D
Conceptual Explanation: Isoleucine is a branched-chain hydrophobic amino acid. In
aqueous environments, hydrophobic side chains are buried in the protein core to minimize
contact with water (hydrophobic effect).
2. Calculate the approximate isoelectric point (pI) of Glutamic Acid given its pKa values:
pKa1=2.19, pKa2=9.67, and pKaR=4.25.
A. 5.93
B. 6.96
,C. 3.22
D. 4.25
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: For acidic amino acids, the pI is calculated by averaging the two
lowest pKa values: (2.19 + 4.25) / 2 = 3.22.
3. In the Michaelis-Menten model, what happens to Vmax and Km in the presence of a
competitive inhibitor?
A. Vmax decreases, Km stays the same
B. Vmax decreases, Km decreases
C. Vmax stays the same, Km increases
D. Vmax increases, Km increases
Answer: C
Conceptual Explanation: Competitive inhibitors bind to the active site, increasing the
concentration of substrate needed to reach half-maximal velocity (Km increases), but Vmax
remains unchanged because sufficient substrate can outcompete the inhibitor.
4. Which enzyme in glycolysis catalyzes the first ‘committed step’ and is the primary
regulatory site of the pathway?
A. Hexokinase
B. Phosphofructokinase-1 (PFK-1)
, C. Pyruvate Kinase
D. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: PFK-1 catalyzes the phosphorylation of Fructose-6-phosphate to
Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate. It is the rate-limiting and major regulatory step of glycolysis.
5. How many net molecules of ATP are produced by the complete aerobic oxidation of one
molecule of glucose in a heart muscle cell (using the malate-aspartate shuttle)?
A. 30
B. 32
C. 36
D. 38
Answer: B
Conceptual Explanation: Using the malate-aspartate shuttle (common in heart/liver), the
total yield is approximately 32 ATP per glucose. The glycerol-3-phosphate shuttle yields 30
ATP.
6. Which intermediate of the Citric Acid Cycle is also a precursor for the synthesis of heme?
A. Alpha-ketoglutarate
B. Succinyl-CoA
C. Oxaloacetate
