WGU BIOCHEMISTRY 785
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉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
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW 2026 VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
◉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
