PORTAGE BIOCHEMISTRY MODULE 3
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
List the 5 functions of proteins - ANS Transport, hormones, catalysis, structure, protection
Define transport function of proteins and example - ANS helps to move molecules around the
cell and organism, ex: Hemoglobin is a blood-based protein that carries oxygen from the lungs
to tissue
Define hormone function of proteins and example - ANS Hormones communicate messages
between cells, ex: relaxin is a protein hormone that helps women relax pelvic ligaments during
childbirth
Define catalysis function of proteins and example - ANS Enzymes speed up or catalyze
chemical rxns, ex: protease enzyme breaks down proteins in cells to help organisms recycle
unneeded proteins
Define structure function of proteins and example - ANS Proteins give strength to cells,
organelles and tissues, ex: collagen is the structural protein in cartilage, skin and tendons
Define amino acids - ANS building blocks of proteins
What functional groups do amino acids contain? - ANS amine and carboxylic acid
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, What permits all amino acids to link together in a protein? - ANS Each amino acid having the
same groups
What is the R group in an amino acid and how are they grouped? - ANS Side chain of the
amino acid; there are 20 different side chains that differ in composition/size/charge so side
chains are grouped by charge, size and polarity
What pH do amino acids exist at? - ANS 7.4
What do amino acids lose and gain at pH of 7.4? - ANS Lose the carboxylic acid H group and
gain an extra proton (NH3+)
Name the 5 sets of amino acids - ANS Non-polar aliphatic, non-polar aromatic, polar neutral,
acidic, basic
Define non-polar aliphatic amino acids - ANS Straight chain amino acids
Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids - ANS glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A), proline
(Pro, P), valine (Val, V), leucine (Leu, L), isoleucine (Ile, I), methionine (Met, M)
Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids in abbreviations - ANS Gly, Ala, Val, Pro, Leu, Ile,
Met
Describe aliphatic amino acids and their location in proteins - ANS Relatively small which
allows them to interact with other groups, found in interior of protein away from water with
other aliphatic groups (fold together)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 13
EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
VERIFIED.
List the 5 functions of proteins - ANS Transport, hormones, catalysis, structure, protection
Define transport function of proteins and example - ANS helps to move molecules around the
cell and organism, ex: Hemoglobin is a blood-based protein that carries oxygen from the lungs
to tissue
Define hormone function of proteins and example - ANS Hormones communicate messages
between cells, ex: relaxin is a protein hormone that helps women relax pelvic ligaments during
childbirth
Define catalysis function of proteins and example - ANS Enzymes speed up or catalyze
chemical rxns, ex: protease enzyme breaks down proteins in cells to help organisms recycle
unneeded proteins
Define structure function of proteins and example - ANS Proteins give strength to cells,
organelles and tissues, ex: collagen is the structural protein in cartilage, skin and tendons
Define amino acids - ANS building blocks of proteins
What functional groups do amino acids contain? - ANS amine and carboxylic acid
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 1 OF 13
, What permits all amino acids to link together in a protein? - ANS Each amino acid having the
same groups
What is the R group in an amino acid and how are they grouped? - ANS Side chain of the
amino acid; there are 20 different side chains that differ in composition/size/charge so side
chains are grouped by charge, size and polarity
What pH do amino acids exist at? - ANS 7.4
What do amino acids lose and gain at pH of 7.4? - ANS Lose the carboxylic acid H group and
gain an extra proton (NH3+)
Name the 5 sets of amino acids - ANS Non-polar aliphatic, non-polar aromatic, polar neutral,
acidic, basic
Define non-polar aliphatic amino acids - ANS Straight chain amino acids
Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids - ANS glycine (Gly, G), alanine (Ala, A), proline
(Pro, P), valine (Val, V), leucine (Leu, L), isoleucine (Ile, I), methionine (Met, M)
Name the 7 nonpolar, aliphatic amino acids in abbreviations - ANS Gly, Ala, Val, Pro, Leu, Ile,
Met
Describe aliphatic amino acids and their location in proteins - ANS Relatively small which
allows them to interact with other groups, found in interior of protein away from water with
other aliphatic groups (fold together)
@COPYRIGHT ALL RIGHTS RESERVED PAGE 2 OF 13