Biochemistry : Biochemistry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Biochemistry

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Example Questions

Example Question #141 : Biochemistry

The role of small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is to __________.

Possible Answers:

bind to complementary mRNA molecules to inhibit translation

bind to mRNA to facilitate its degradation

carry amino acids to the ribosome for translation

participate in the splicing of RNA exons

function as the template for protein synthesis

Correct answer:

participate in the splicing of RNA exons

Explanation:

The function of snRNA is to participate in the splicing of RNA exons. Micro RNA binds to complementary mRNA to inhibit translation. Small interfering RNA binds to mRNA to facilitate its degradation. mRNA functions as a template for protein synthesis. Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation.

Example Question #142 : Biochemistry

What is the role of microRNA?

Possible Answers:

Participates in the splicing of RNA exons

Binds to mRNA to facilitate its degradation

Binds to complementary mRNA strand to inhibit translation

Carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation

Functions as a template for protein synthesis

Correct answer:

Binds to complementary mRNA strand to inhibit translation

Explanation:

The function of snRNA is to participate in the splicing of RNA exons. Micro RNA binds to complementary mRNA to inhibit translation. Small interfering RNA binds to mRNA to facilitate its degradation. mRNA functions as a template for protein synthesis. Transfer RNA (tRNA) carries amino acids to the ribosome during translation.

Example Question #143 : Biochemistry

In eukaryotes, the TATA box and/or Hogness box found on DNA are __________.

Possible Answers:

DNA replication origin sites

transcription stop sites

primer sites

promoter sites

degradation sites

Correct answer:

promoter sites

Explanation:

The TATA box and/or the Hogness box are regions on DNA that function as promoter sites. RNA polymerase scans DNA for these regions and when it sees one, it recognizes that it should begin transcription of the following gene.

Example Question #144 : Biochemistry

Which of the following statements about B DNA structure is incorrect?

Possible Answers:

Its glycosidic bonds are in the syn conformation.

It is a right handed helix with a diameter of 20 A.

Its minor groove is narrow and deep.

It has a pitch of 10 base pairs per helical turn.

Correct answer:

Its glycosidic bonds are in the syn conformation.

Explanation:

The glycosidic bonds of B DNA are in the anti conformation. This means that the nucleotide and sugar are on opposite sides of the N-glycosidic bond.

Example Question #145 : Biochemistry

Which of the following is not a feature of both DNA and RNA?

Possible Answers:

Read from the 5' to 3' direction.

Guanine can pair with cytosine.

Uses a ribose sugar.

Uses adenine nitrogenous bases.

Correct answer:

Uses a ribose sugar.

Explanation:

DNA and RNA share many common characteristics, as they are both nucleic acids. One of the key differences is that DNA use a deoxyribose sugar while RNA uses a ribose sugar. It should be noted that while RNA is typically assumed to be single stranded, it can still exhibit complementary base pairing. As a result, the guanine and cytosine base pairing can still take place.

Example Question #146 : Biochemistry

A histone is mutated so all lysine residues are changed to glutamate. What effect will this mutation have?

Possible Answers:

The histone will be tagged with ubiquitin.

The histone will have an increased binding affinity for DNA.

The histone will introduce more negative supercoils in the DNA.

The histone will have a reduced binding affinity for DNA.

Correct answer:

The histone will have a reduced binding affinity for DNA.

Explanation:

DNA is negatively charged because of the sugar-phosphate backbone. Histones are rich in lysine residues because they are positively charged and are ideal for DNA to wrap around. If the lysines became glutamates, the histone would overall have a negative charge, causing the DNA to bind weakly to each histone. The function of introducing negative supercoils would be reduced, and ubiquitination would not be affected.

Example Question #147 : Biochemistry

Primase is needed for which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Suppling and RNA primer with a free 3' end

Suppling a DNA primer with a free 3' end

Supplying an RNA primer with a free 5' end

Reliving supercoiling stress on DNA

Supplying a DNA primer with a free 5' end

Correct answer:

Suppling and RNA primer with a free 3' end

Explanation:

Primase is an enzyme used in the replication of DNA. DNA polymerase synthesizes DNA in a 5' to 3' direction, so it needs a free 3' end to begin its replication from. The primase constructs an RNA substrate with a free 3' end, that binds complementary to the unwound and single-stranded DNA template that is about to be replicated. 

Example Question #143 : Biochemistry

Starting with the first start codon, what is the third codon in the following mRNA sequence?

5'AAUGUUAGCGUGCGCUA3'

Possible Answers:

GCG

CGC

CUA

UAC

AUG

Correct answer:

GCG

Explanation:

A codon is a set of three nucleic acids on the messenger RNA that codes for an amino acid. The start codon is AUG. In this strand, AUG is the first codon, the second is UUA, and the third is GCG.

Example Question #148 : Biochemistry

During bacterial DNA replication, what is required for sealing the Okazaki fragments of DNA together after the RNA primers have been replaced with DNA?

Possible Answers:

DNA ligase and ATP

Primase and free nucleic acids

DNA ligase and AMP

DNA polymerase 1

DNA polymerase 3

Correct answer:

DNA ligase and ATP

Explanation:

After DNA Polymerase 1 replaces the RNA primers with DNA. DNA ligase then comes along and uses an ATP for energy as it connects the 3' and 5' ends of the DNA gap, completing the replication of the template strand. 

Example Question #149 : Biochemistry

Which of the following statements is true about the B and Z forms of the DNA helix?

I. Z-DNA is a left-handed helix; B-DNA is a right-handed helix.

II. Z-DNA has 12 base pairs per turn of the helix; B-DNA has 10 base pairs per turn of helix.

III. B-DNA is present in chromosomal DNA.

IV. Z-DNA can occur in sequences with many guanine (G), cytosine(C) residues (polyGC sequence).

Possible Answers:

I, II, III, and IV

III and IV

II and III

I and IV

I and II

Correct answer:

I, II, III, and IV

Explanation:

There are 3 conformations of the DNA molecule. The B form is in chromosomal DNA, the A form is representative of DNA-RNA hybrids. The Z form of DNA appears in poly GC (poly guanine, cytosine) sequences.

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