WGU C785 Biochemistry OA FINAL
EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED
A+
Which level of protein structure is disrupted through the hydrolysis of peptide
bonds?
Quaternary
Tertiary
Primary
Secondary - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Primary
The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids held together by
peptide bonds. Peptide bonds are formed by dehydration reactions and disrupted by
hydrolysis.
A mutation in the beta-hemoglobin gene, which results in the replacement of the
amino acid glutamate in position 6 with the amino acid valine, leads to the
development of sickle cell anemia. The structures of glutamate and valine are
shown below.
If the beta hemoglobin gene in a patient with sickle-cell anemia were to be edited
so that the valine in position 6 was replaced with a different amino acid, which
replacement for valine would be expected to have the best clinical outcome, in
theory, for the patient? (Assume the valine can potentially be replaced with any
amino acid other than glutamate.) - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,The original amino acid in a
healthy patient is glutamate, which is negatively charged. The mutated amino acid
is valine, which is non-polar. Valine is causing sickle cell anemia. The best amino
,acid to replace valine so that the patient is healthy again would be the one most
like glutamate, so any negatively charged amino acid.
Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels of protein structure can all be impacted
by exposing a protein to which treatment?
Change of a hydrophobic amino acid to a different hydrophobic amino acid
Addition of a reducing agent
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Increase in the concentration of the protein in solution -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Changes in pH affect hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds in the
backbone of amino acids occur in secondary structure, and both hydrogen bonds
and ionic bonds occur in the side chains of amino acids in tertiary structure.
An increase in beta-pleated sheet structure in some brain proteins can lead to an
increase in amyloid deposit formation, characteristic of some neurodegenerative
diseases. What is the primary biochemical process that follows the increase in beta-
pleated sheet structure that leads to the development of the amyloid deposits?
An increase in glycogen formation in the brain cells
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
Secretion of glucagon, leading to excessive ketogenesis
An increase in anaerobic metabolism of glucose in the brain -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
This question is describing changes in protein structure. Aggregation occurs when
proteins clump together inappropriately, causing plaques like amyloid deposits to
accumulate.
Which level of protein structure is determined by the sequence of amino acids?
Secondary structure
, Quaternary structure
Tertiary structure
Primary structure - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Primary structure
The primary structure of a protein is simply the sequence of amino acids held
together by peptide bonds.
Which force is most influential in determining the secondary structure of a protein?
Hydrophobic effect
Disulfide bonding
Hydrogen bonding
Electrostatic interactions - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Hydrogen bonding
The secondary structure of a protein is built by hydrogen bonds between the
carboxyl groups and amino groups on the backbones of the amino acids.
Which amino acid would most likely participate in hydrogen bonds? -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Amino Acid structure 4
This is a polar, uncharged amino acid due to the OH group on the side chain. Polar,
uncharged amino acids containing oxygen or NH groups make hydrogen bonds.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is surrounding the section below the Alpha Carbon -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Side Chain
The side chain is the variable group of the amino acid, also called the R group.
Every amino acid has the same amino group, carboxylic acid group, and an alpha
carbon, but the side chain is different.
Which pair of amino acids will most likely interact through hydrophobic forces
between their side chains? - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Both of these amino acids are non-
EXAM PRACTICE TEST QUESTIONS
WITH ANSWERS 2025/2026 GRADED
A+
Which level of protein structure is disrupted through the hydrolysis of peptide
bonds?
Quaternary
Tertiary
Primary
Secondary - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Primary
The primary structure of a protein is the sequence of amino acids held together by
peptide bonds. Peptide bonds are formed by dehydration reactions and disrupted by
hydrolysis.
A mutation in the beta-hemoglobin gene, which results in the replacement of the
amino acid glutamate in position 6 with the amino acid valine, leads to the
development of sickle cell anemia. The structures of glutamate and valine are
shown below.
If the beta hemoglobin gene in a patient with sickle-cell anemia were to be edited
so that the valine in position 6 was replaced with a different amino acid, which
replacement for valine would be expected to have the best clinical outcome, in
theory, for the patient? (Assume the valine can potentially be replaced with any
amino acid other than glutamate.) - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,The original amino acid in a
healthy patient is glutamate, which is negatively charged. The mutated amino acid
is valine, which is non-polar. Valine is causing sickle cell anemia. The best amino
,acid to replace valine so that the patient is healthy again would be the one most
like glutamate, so any negatively charged amino acid.
Secondary, tertiary, and quaternary levels of protein structure can all be impacted
by exposing a protein to which treatment?
Change of a hydrophobic amino acid to a different hydrophobic amino acid
Addition of a reducing agent
Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Increase in the concentration of the protein in solution -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Placement of the protein in a solution with a low pH
Changes in pH affect hydrogen bonds and ionic bonds. Hydrogen bonds in the
backbone of amino acids occur in secondary structure, and both hydrogen bonds
and ionic bonds occur in the side chains of amino acids in tertiary structure.
An increase in beta-pleated sheet structure in some brain proteins can lead to an
increase in amyloid deposit formation, characteristic of some neurodegenerative
diseases. What is the primary biochemical process that follows the increase in beta-
pleated sheet structure that leads to the development of the amyloid deposits?
An increase in glycogen formation in the brain cells
Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
Secretion of glucagon, leading to excessive ketogenesis
An increase in anaerobic metabolism of glucose in the brain -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Aggregation of the proteins in the brain
This question is describing changes in protein structure. Aggregation occurs when
proteins clump together inappropriately, causing plaques like amyloid deposits to
accumulate.
Which level of protein structure is determined by the sequence of amino acids?
Secondary structure
, Quaternary structure
Tertiary structure
Primary structure - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Primary structure
The primary structure of a protein is simply the sequence of amino acids held
together by peptide bonds.
Which force is most influential in determining the secondary structure of a protein?
Hydrophobic effect
Disulfide bonding
Hydrogen bonding
Electrostatic interactions - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Hydrogen bonding
The secondary structure of a protein is built by hydrogen bonds between the
carboxyl groups and amino groups on the backbones of the amino acids.
Which amino acid would most likely participate in hydrogen bonds? -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Amino Acid structure 4
This is a polar, uncharged amino acid due to the OH group on the side chain. Polar,
uncharged amino acids containing oxygen or NH groups make hydrogen bonds.
Which portion of the amino acid is inside the box?
The box is surrounding the section below the Alpha Carbon -
,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Side Chain
The side chain is the variable group of the amino acid, also called the R group.
Every amino acid has the same amino group, carboxylic acid group, and an alpha
carbon, but the side chain is different.
Which pair of amino acids will most likely interact through hydrophobic forces
between their side chains? - ,,,,,,ANSWER,,,,,,,Both of these amino acids are non-
