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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Protein Structure And Functions
Which of the following describes induced fit regarding enzyme/substrate binding?
Upon binding to the enzyme, the substrate changes its own shape so that it fits perfectly
None of these are examples of induced fit
Upon binding to the enzyme, the substrate already fits perfectly into the active site
Upon binding to the enzyme, the substrate changes the shape of the enzyme so that it fits perfectly
All of these are examples of induced fit
Upon binding to the enzyme, the substrate changes the shape of the enzyme so that it fits perfectly
The induced fit model explains one method by which an enzyme's active site can accept some specific substrate. Initially, the active site might not be a perfect match for the substrate, however, when the substrate enters into the site, it can change the conformation of the enzyme just enough that it now fits perfectly and can be acted upon by the enzyme.
Example Question #1 : Protein Structure
Suppose that the active site of an enzyme contains amino acid residues at the following positions:
Residue - Arginine
Residue - Valine
Residue - Glutamate
Residue - Glycine
Which of the following amino acid substitutions would be least likely to affect the activity of this enzyme?
Asparagine at position
Tryptophan at position
Lysine at position
A substitution at any of these positions would render the enzyme inactive
Aspartate at position
Lysine at position
To answer this question, we need to have a general understanding about amino acid properties. For instance, at physiological pH, some amino acid side chains will carry a negative charge, some will carry a positive charge, and others will be neutral. Thus, we'll need to take note of which amino acid characteristics each position has, and then evaluate each answer choice to see if the new amino acid being substituted has different characteristics.
At position is arginine, which carries a positive charge. At position is valine, which has an aliphatic side chain that is neutral and relatively hydrophobic. At position is the amino acid glutamate, which is negatively charged due to the carboxyl group on its side chain. Finally, we have glycine at position , which contains a lonely hydrogen atom as its side chain.
Now that we have the characteristics of the amino acid residues in the enzyme, let's compare them to the substitutions listed in the answer choices.
Substituting an aspartate residue into position would mean replacing valine (neutral) with a positively charged amino acid. Hence, this would likely result in disruption of enzyme activity.
Substituting a tryptophan residue into position would replace glycine. In contrast to the extremely small side chain of glycine, the side chain of tryptophan is very large. This great size discrepancy could potentially lead to steric effects that could interfere with the binding of substrate to the enzyme.
Substitution of an asparagine residue into position would replace glutamate. Because glutamate is negatively charged, whereas asparagine is neutral, this substitution would likely interfere with enzyme activity.
Finally, let's consider the substitution of arginine at position with a lysine. In this case, a positively charged arginine would be replaced by another positively charged amino acid, lysine. Because of the similarity between these two amino acids, this substitution would be the least likely to cause a disruption in the enzyme's activity.
Example Question #2 : Protein Structure And Functions
How many water molecules are lost from the condensation of 100 amino acids into a polypeptide?
A peptide bond is formed via the condensation of one amino acid's alpha-carboxy group with the alpha-amino group of another amino acid. Thus, the joining together of two amino acids results in the loss of one water molecule. Likewise, joining three amino acids together results in the loss of two water molecules. Following this pattern, we can conclude that the number of water molecules lost is equal to the number of amino acids joined together, minus 1. Therefore, the joining together of 100 amino acids results in the loss of 99 water molecules.
Example Question #2 : Protein Structure And Functions
Amino acids are connected via __________ bonds, which occur between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.
double
peptide
ionic
hydrogen
amino
peptide
A peptide bond connects two amino acids. This is the result of a condensation reaction (water is lost) and a new nitrogen-carbon bond forms between two amino acids. Note that amino acid synthesis occurs in the direction. Peptide bonds are covalent bonds that are responsible for the primary structure of amino acids.
Example Question #1 : Peptide Bonds
In how many different ways can the amino acids leucine, glutamate, and glycine be arranged?
For this question, we are presented with three different amino acids and are asked how many possible ways they can be arranged. One way to do this is to list out all the various ways they can be connected.
1) Gly-Leu-Glu
2) Gly-Glu-Leu
3) Leu-Gly-Glu
4) Leu-Glu-Gly
5) Glu-Leu-Gly
6) Glu-Gly-Leu
Alternatively, we could use the mathematic expression to determine the number of combinations of three separate things, which is equal to .
Example Question #1 : Macromolecule Structures And Functions
What accounts for peptide bond planarity within a polypeptide?
The peptide bond is not planar, it can actually rotate relatively freely
Electronegativity differences between nitrogen and carbon
Hydrogen bonding between amino acid side chains and water
The fully double bonded peptide bond
Partial double bond character of the peptide bond
Partial double bond character of the peptide bond
The peptide bond within a polypeptide creates planarity, while other parts of the polypeptide are free to rotate. This occurs because of a delocalization of the electrons on the nitrogen of the amino group (resonance), forming a partial double bond.
While there is a slight difference in electronegativity between carbon and nitrogen, this does not effect the planarity of a polypeptide. Additionally, while a small and insignificant amount of hydrogen bonding may occur between side chains and water, it would not effect planarity regardless.
Example Question #1 : Protein Structure
The cis conformation of most amino acids is virtually non-existent in nature. Which amnio acid is the exception to this rule, and has a significant amount of cis conformation present in nature?
Arginine
Glycine
Tryptophan
Alanine
Proline
Proline
A cis conformation is so rare due to steric clashes between side chains in different amino acid residues. The Van der Waals forces are simply to great for two side chains to occupy nearby spaces. However, proline is a very unique amino acid. Proline has a unique ring structure, in which its side chain is attached to its amino backbone group. Because of this, there is actually some steric clash in the trans conformation, in addition to the cis conformation. Overall, it is estimated that 10-30% of proline exists in the cis conformation, which is far greater than any other amino acid.
Example Question #2 : Protein Structure And Functions
What is represented by the colored regions of a Ramachandran plot?
The order of amino acid residues within a certain polypeptide chain.
The amino acid residues that are permitted within a certain polypeptide chain.
The energy required to break an amide bond within a polypeptide chain.
The unfavorable angles of the bonds of an amino acid within a polypeptide chain.
The favorable angles of the bonds of an amino acid within a polypeptide chain.
The favorable angles of the bonds of an amino acid within a polypeptide chain.
A Ramachandran plot, also referred to as a dihedral plot, tells us about what bond angles are favorable for an amino acid residue. The colored regions are favorable, while the uncolored (white) regions are not favorable. Additionally, each colored regions also corresponds to a different secondary structures (alpha helix, beta sheet, etc.).
These plots can't tell us much about the specific residue order within a polypeptide chain, or the energy required to break an amide bond.
Example Question #3 : Protein Structure And Functions
Which proteins are generally water-soluble?
Both globular fibrous proteins
Fibrous proteins
Neither globular nor fibrous proteins
Globular proteins
Globular proteins
In a globular protein, the amino acid chain can twist in a way that polar groups lie at the protein's surface. This allows the protein to interact with water and enhances the protein's solubility in water. This does not occur in fibrous proteins, so fibrous proteins are insoluble in water.
Example Question #4 : Protein Structure And Functions
Which of the following is false about actin filaments?
They require GTP for assembly
Nucleotide hydrolysis promotes dissociation of actin filaments
They are made up of G-actin
2 microfilaments combine to make a coiled filament
Growth of the actin chain occurs at the plus (+) end
They require GTP for assembly
Actin chain growth occurs at the (+) end of the chain, and nucleotide hydrolysis promotes dissociation of actin chains. 2 microfilaments of G-actin monomers make 1 filament of F-actin. However, actin filament assembly is powered by ATP, not GTP.
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