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Biological Science, 5e (Freeman)

Chapter 3 Protein Structure and Function


1) Side chains of amino acids _____.
A) are all nonpolar
B) are nonpolar if they contain N or S
C) are all polar
D) may be polar or nonpolar
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
2) Which one of the following is NOT a component of each monomer used to make proteins?
A) a phosphorus atom, P
B) an amino functional group, NH2
C) a side chain, R
D) a carboxyl group, COOH
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
3) What component of amino acid structure varies among different amino acids?
A) the long carbon-hydrogen tails of the molecule
B) the presence of a central C atom
C) the components of the R-group
D) the glycerol molecule that forms the backbone of the amino acid
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
4) Why are polymerization reactions endergonic? Polymerization reactions _____.
A) reduce entropy
B) release heat, making the reactant monomers move faster
C) release energy
D) are at equilibrium
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
5) At about pH 7 in most cells, what happens to the amino R-group on an amino acid?
A) It acts as a base and gains a proton, giving it a positive charge.
B) It acts as an acid and loses a proton, giving it a negative charge.
C) It is reduced, and tends to act as an electron donor in redox reactions.
D) It remains neutral, like water, and does not have a charge.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
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6) At about pH 7 in most cells, what happens to the carboxyl R-group on an amino acid?
A) It acts as a base and gains a proton, giving it a positive charge.
B) It acts as an acid and loses a proton, giving it a negative charge.
C) It is oxidized, and tends to act as an electron acceptor in redox reactions.
D) It remains neutral, like water, and does not have a charge.
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
7) Which of the following involves an increase in entropy?
A) hydrolysis
B) reactions that join monomers
C) polymerization
D) chemical evolution
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
8) In solution, why do hydrolysis reactions occur more readily than condensation reactions?
A) Hydrolysis increases entropy and is exergonic.
B) Hydrolysis raises G, or Gibbs free energy.
C) Hydrolysis decreases entropy and is exergonic.
D) Hydrolysis increases entropy and is endergonic.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
9) Suppose you discovered a new amino acid. Its R-group contains only hydrogen and carbon
atoms. Predict the behavior of this amino acid.
A) It is hydrophobic.
B) It is hydrophilic.
C) Relative to the amino acids found in organisms, its interactions with water will be
intermediate.
D) Relative to the amino acids found in organisms, its interactions with water will be very high.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
10) A peptide bond _____.
A) forms between the functional R-groups of different amino acids
B) forms between the central carbon and the amino R-group of a single amino acid
C) forms the primary structure of proteins
D) does not play a role in maintaining the tertiary structure of proteins
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
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11) The bonding of two amino acid molecules to form a larger molecule requires the _____.
A) release of a water molecule
B) release of a carbon dioxide molecule
C) addition of a carbon dioxide molecule
D) addition of a water molecule
E) addition of a water molecule and a carbon dioxide molecule
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
12) There are 20 different amino acids. What makes one amino acid different from another?
A) different side chains (R-groups) attached to a carboxyl carbon
B) different side chains (R-groups) attached to the amino groups
C) different side chains (R-groups) attached to an carbon
D) different structural and optical isomers
E) different asymmetric carbons
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
13) Upon chemical analysis, a particular polypeptide was found to contain 100 amino acids. How
many peptide bonds are present in this protein?
A) 101
B) 100
C) 99
D) 98
E) 97
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
14) Which bonds are created during the formation of the primary structure of a protein?
A) peptide bonds
B) hydrogen bonds
C) disulfide bonds
D) phosphodiester bonds
E) peptide bonds, hydrogen bonds, and disulfide bonds
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1

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15) Which type of interaction stabilizes the -helix and the -pleated sheet structures of proteins?
A) hydrophobic interactions
B) disulfide bonds
C) ionic bonds
D) hydrogen bonds
E) peptide bonds
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1

16) The chemical reaction illustrated in the accompanying figure _____.


A) is a hydrolysis reaction
B) results in a peptide bond
C) joins two fatty acids together
D) links two polymers to form a monomer
E) joins two phospholipids in a bilayer
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
Refer to the accompanying figure to answer the following questions.

17) At which bond would water need to be added to achieve hydrolysis of the peptide, back to its
component amino acids?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
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18) Which bond is a peptide bond?


A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
19) Which bond is closest to the amino group of the molecule?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
20) Which two functional groups are always found in amino acids?
A) ketone and methyl groups
B) carbonyl and amino groups
C) carboxyl and amino groups
D) amino and sulfhydryl groups
E) hydroxyl and carboxyl groups
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1
21) Amino acids are acids because they always possess which functional group?
A) amino
B) carbonyl
C) carboxyl
D) phosphate
E) hydroxyl
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1

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22) A hydrocarbon skeleton is covalently bonded to an amino group at one end and a carboxyl
group at the other end. When placed in water this molecule would function _____.
A) only as an acid because of the carboxyl group
B) only as a base because of the amino group
C) as an acid and a base
D) as neither an acid nor a base
E) It is impossible to determine how it would function, based on the provided information.
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1

23) Which molecule shown above contains an amino functional group, but is NOT an amino
acid?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1

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The following questions are based on the 15 molecules illustrated in the accompanying figure.
Each molecule may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

24) Which of the following molecules is an amino acid with a hydrophobic R-group or side
chain?
A) 3
B) 7
C) 10
D) 12
E) 13
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.1

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25) Which of the following pairs of molecules could be joined together by a peptide bond in a
dehydration reaction?
A) 2 and 3
B) 3 and 7
C) 7 and 8
D) 8 and 9
E) 12 and 13
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.1
26) You disrupt all hydrogen bonds in a protein. What level of structure will be preserved?
A) primary structure
B) secondary structure
C) tertiary structure
D) quaternary structure
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
27) When polymerization of a protein is complete, but a protein is still completely linear, what is
the highest level of structure in the protein?
A) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
28) You determine the amino acid sequence of a protein and find it contains a long sequence of
methionine, followed by a long sequence of proline, followed by a long sequence of valine.
Using these data you predict the sequence of this protein's secondary structure will be _____.
A) beta sheets, then a region of no secondary structure, then beta sheets
B) alpha-helices, then a region of no secondary structure, then alpha helices
C) beta sheets, then a region of no secondary structure, then alpha-helices
D) alpha-helices, then a region of no secondary structure, then beta sheets
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2

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29) You are studying a protein that is shaped like a doughnut. The shape is a function of which
level(s) of protein structure?
A) primary only
B) secondary only
C) tertiary only
D) secondary and tertiary only
E) primary, secondary, and tertiary
Answer: E
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
30) You have just sequenced a new protein found in mice and observe that sulfur-containing
cysteine residues occur at regular intervals. What is the significance of this finding?
A) Cysteine residues are required for the formation of -helices and -pleated sheets.
B) It will be important to include cysteine in the diet of the mice.
C) Cysteine residues are involved in disulfide bridges that help form tertiary structure.
D) Cysteine causes bends, or angles, to occur in the tertiary structure of proteins.
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
31) Aquaporins are proteins that control the passage of water molecules across a cell membrane.
The protein forms a pore, or opening, in the membrane. You isolate what you think are two
different molecules of aquaporin, and determine that one of the proteins has a larger pore
diameter than the second. Which of the following do you conclude?
A) These two forms of aquaporin will have identical sequences of amino acids.
B) These two forms of aquaporin will have different sequences of amino acids.
C) You will have to sequence the proteins to compare their primary structure, because it should
have no effect on pore diameter.
D) These two forms of aquaporin have identical primary structure but differ in their tertiary
structure.
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
32) What type of interaction is directly responsible for the formation of secondary structure?
A) peptide bonds between adjacent amino acids
B) peptide bonds between nonadjacent amino acids
C) hydrogen bonds between sections of the polypeptide backbone
D) hydrogen bonds between side chains of amino acids
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2

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33) A series of hydrophobic side chains will congregate together as a protein folds in an aqueous
solution and be stabilized by _____.
A) disulfide bonds
B) van der Waals interactions
C) hydrogen bonds
D) quaternary structure bonds
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
34) How does primary protein structure affect the function of protein enzymes?
A) Substrates interact with R-groups at the enzyme's active site.
B) Substrates interact with R-groups at the enzyme's external surface.
C) Substrates interact with hydrophobic R-groups at any region of the enzyme.
D) Substrates permanently bind to R-groups at the enzyme's active site.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2

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Copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Refer to the following paragraph and accompanying figure to answer the following questions.

Since structure correlates well with function, look for new ways to probe the complex structure
of proteins in order to understand what they do and how they do it. One of the most powerful
techniques in existence today is X-ray crystallography. The main difficulty with this technique is
getting the protein to crystallize. Once crystallized, the protein is bombarded with X-rays to
create a pattern that can be analyzed mathematically to determine the three-dimensional structure
of the protein. This analysis has been performed by Palczewski (2000) on the protein rhodopsin,
which is a light-sensitive protein found in species ranging from ancient bacteria (archaea) to
humans. The structure (schematically shown above, where each letter represents an amino acid)
is characterized by a single polypeptide chain with several -helical segments that loop back and
forth across the cell membrane. Another notable feature is the disulfide bond (-S-S-) that can be
seen at the bottom of the third transmembrane segment. [Figure adapted from K. Palczewski et
al., Science 289 (2000): 739.]
35) If you were reading off the sequence of amino acids in the figure to a biologist friend, what
should the first three letters be?
A) M-N-G
B) A-P-A
C) It does not matter, since the protein has no polarity or directionality.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
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36) Identify the location of the disulfide bond in the figure, located at the bottom of the third
transmembrane segment. What is the name of the amino acids that are forming this bond?
A) cytosine
B) aspartic acid
C) cysteine
D) glycine
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
37) What is the location of the C-terminus of the protein in the figure?
A) extracellular
B) cytoplasm
C) embedded within the membrane
D) nucleus
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
38) Refer to the figure. Which level of structure is maintained by the disulfide bond?
A) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
39) The amino acids of the protein keratin are arranged predominantly in an -helix. This
secondary structure is stabilized by _____.
A) covalent bonds
B) peptide bonds
C) ionic bonds
D) polar bonds
E) hydrogen bonds
Answer: E
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2

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40) The tertiary structure of a protein is the _____.


A) bonding together of several polypeptide chains by weak bonds
B) order in which amino acids are joined in a polypeptide chain
C) unique three-dimensional shape of the fully folded polypeptide
D) organization of a polypeptide chain into an -helix or -pleated sheet
E) overall protein structure resulting from the aggregation of two or more polypeptide subunits
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
41) What type of covalent bond between amino acid side chains (R-groups) functions in
maintaining a polypeptide's specific three-dimensional shape?
A) ionic bond
B) hydrophobic interaction
C) van der Waals interaction
D) disulfide bond
E) hydrogen bond
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
42) At which level of protein structure are interactions between the side chains (R-groups) most
important?
A) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary
E) primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
43) The R-group, or side chain, of the amino acid serine is -CH2-OH. The R-group, or side
chain, of the amino acid leucine is -CH2-CH-(CH3)2. Where would you expect to find these
amino acids in a globular protein in aqueous solution?
A) Serine would be in the interior, and leucine would be on the exterior of the globular protein.
B) Leucine would be in the interior, and serine would be on the exterior of the globular protein.
C) Serine and leucine would both be in the interior of the globular protein.
D) Serine and leucine would both be on the exterior of the globular protein.
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2

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44) Misfolding of polypeptides is a serious problem in cells. Which of the following diseases are
associated with an accumulation of misfolded polypeptides?
A) Alzheimer's only
B) Parkinson's only
C) diabetes mellitus only
D) Alzheimer's and Parkinson's only
E) Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and diabetes mellitus
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
45) Changing a single amino acid in a protein consisting of 325 amino acids would _____.
A) alter the primary structure of the protein but not its tertiary structure or function
B) cause the tertiary structure of the protein to unfold
C) always alter the biological activity or function of the protein
D) always alter the secondary structure of the protein and disrupt its biological activity
E) always alter the primary structure of the protein, sometimes alter the tertiary structure of the
protein, and sometimes affect its biological activity
Answer: E
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
46) Normal hemoglobin is a tetramer, consisting of two molecules of hemoglobin and two
molecules of hemoglobin. In sickle-cell disease, as a result of a single amino acid change, the
mutant hemoglobin tetramers associate with each other and assemble into large fibers. Based on
this information alone, we can conclude that sickle-cell hemoglobin exhibits _____.
A) only altered primary structure
B) only altered secondary structure
C) only altered tertiary structure
D) only altered quaternary structure
E) altered primary structure and altered quaternary structure; the secondary and tertiary
structures may or may not be altered
Answer: E
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
47) In a normal cellular protein, where would you expect to find a hydrophobic amino acid like
valine?
A) in the interior of the folded protein, away from water
B) on the exterior surface of the protein, interacting with water
C) in the transmembrane portion interacting with lipid fatty acid chains
D) in the interior of the folded protein, away from water, or in a transmembrane portion
interacting with lipid fatty acid chains
E) anywhere in the protein, with equal probability
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2
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48) If cells are grown in a medium containing radioactive 35S, which of these molecules will be
labeled?
A) phospholipids
B) nucleic acids
C) proteins
D) amylose
E) proteins and nucleic acids
Answer: C
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2

49) The structure depicted the accompanying figure shows the _____.
A) 1-4 linkage of the -glucose monomers of starch
B) 1-4 linkage of the -glucose monomers of cellulose
C) double-helical structure of a DNA molecule
D) -helix secondary structure of a polypeptide
E) -pleated sheet secondary structure of a polypeptide
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.2

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50) The structural level of a protein least affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding is the
_____.
A) primary level
B) secondary level
C) tertiary level
D) quaternary level
E) All structural levels are equally affected by a disruption in hydrogen bonding.
Answer: A
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
51) Van der Waals interactions may result when _____.
A) hybrid orbitals overlap
B) electrons are not symmetrically distributed in a molecule
C) molecules held by ionic bonds react with water
D) two polar covalent bonds react
E) a hydrogen atom loses an electron
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2

52) Which of the groups shown above is a functional group that helps stabilize proteins by
forming covalent cross-links within or between protein molecules?
A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E
Answer: E
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2

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53) Which level of protein structure do the -helix and the -pleated sheet represent?
A) primary
B) secondary
C) tertiary
D) quaternary
E) primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.2
54) Which of the following is the strongest evidence that protein structure and function are
correlated?
A) Proteins function best at certain temperatures.
B) Proteins have four distinct levels of structure and many functions.
C) Enzymes tend to be globular in shape.
D) Denatured (unfolded) proteins do not function normally.
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.3

17
Copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Refer to the following paragraph and accompanying figure to answer the following questions.

Since structure correlates well with function, look for new ways to probe the complex structure
of proteins in order to understand what they do and how they do it. One of the most powerful
techniques in existence today is X-ray crystallography. The main difficulty with this technique is
getting the protein to crystallize. Once crystallized, the protein is bombarded with X-rays to
create a pattern that can be analyzed mathematically to determine the three-dimensional structure
of the protein. This analysis has been performed by Palczewski (2000) on the protein rhodopsin,
which is a light-sensitive protein found in species ranging from ancient bacteria (archaea) to
humans. The structure (schematically shown above, where each letter represents an amino acid)
is characterized by a single polypeptide chain with several -helical segments that loop back and
forth across the cell membrane. Another notable feature is the disulfide bond (-S-S-) that can be
seen at the bottom of the third transmembrane segment. [Figure adapted from K. Palczewski et
al., Science 289 (2000): 739.]
55) How many times does the protein in the figure cross the cell membrane?
A) 1
B) 3
C) 4
D) 7
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.3
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Copyright 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

The following questions are based on the 15 molecules illustrated in the accompanying figure.
Each molecule may be used once, more than once, or not at all.

56) Which of the following molecules act as building blocks (monomers) of polypeptides?
A) 1, 4, and 6
B) 2, 7, and 8
C) 7, 8, and 13
D) 11, 12, and 13
E) 12, 13, and 15
Answer: B
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.3

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57) Proteins in biological systems _____.


A) store genetic information
B) link with other proteins to form bilayers in cell membranes
C) form high-energy intermediates such as ATP
D) catalyze reactions
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.4
58) An enzyme has a total of four active sites. When you denature the molecule and study its
composition, you find that each active site occurs on a different polypeptide. Which of the
following hypotheses does this observation support?
A) The enzyme is subject to regulation.
B) The enzyme requires a cofactor to function normally.
C) The protein's structure is affected by temperature and pH.
D) The protein has quaternary structure.
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Application/Analysis
Section: 3.4
59) What are prions?
A) mobile segments of DNA
B) tiny circular molecules of RNA that can infect plants
C) viral DNA that attaches itself to the host genome and causes disease
D) misfolded versions of normal protein that can cause disease
E) viruses that invade bacteria
Answer: D
Bloom's Taxonomy: Knowledge/Comprehension
Section: 3.3

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