PAPER 2026 QUESTIONS WITH
ANSWERS GRADED A+
◍ Functions of proteins in cells.
Answer: Proteins perform various functions including catalyzing
biochemical reactions (enzymes), transporting molecules, providing
structural support, facilitating communication, and regulating biological
processes.
◍ What is the shape of DNA/ what is this called?.
Answer: double helix
◍ Which direction do the two polynucleotide chains run?.
Answer: opposite directions, aka antiparallel
◍ Where does replication begin?.
Answer: at sites called the origin or replication
◍ Regions of an amino acid.
Answer: An amino acid consists of an amino group (NH2), a carboxyl group
(COOH), a central carbon atom (C), and a variable side chain (R) that
determines the specific properties of the amino acid.
◍ All the chemical reactions in the cell are referred to as the cell's.
Answer: metabolism
◍ Four levels of protein structure.
Answer: The four levels of protein structure are: primary (sequence of
amino acids), secondary (alpha helices and beta sheets), tertiary (3D
folding), and quaternary (assembly of multiple polypeptide chains).
◍ An inorganic substance, such as a metal ion, that is necessary for an enzyme
, to function is called a.
Answer: cofactor
◍ Polypeptide vs. Protein.
Answer: A polypeptide is a chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds,
while a protein is a functional molecule composed of one or more
polypeptides that have folded into a specific shape.
◍ Substrate molecules chemically interact with the ------ of an enzyme's amino
acids at the active site.
Answer: side chains
◍ Properties of an enzyme.
Answer: Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions,
are specific to substrates, lower activation energy, and can be affected by
temperature, pH, and the presence of inhibitors or activators.
◍ Reactants, products, and enzymes in a reaction.
Answer: In a chemical reaction, reactants are the starting materials that
undergo transformation, products are the substances formed as a result, and
enzymes are proteins that facilitate the reaction without being consumed.
◍ Substrate molecules chemically interact with the side chains of an enzyme's
amino acids at the.
Answer: active site
◍ Effect of adding/removing enzymes in pathways.
Answer: Removing an enzyme from a biochemical pathway can slow down
or halt the pathway, while adding an enzyme can increase the reaction rate,
potentially leading to higher product formation.
◍ the best model for how an enzyme and substrate bind to one another is:.
Answer: induced fit model
◍ When you eat a meal, enzymes in your digestive system break down starch
into glucose. This is an example of -------- and it releases energy.
Answer: catabolism
,◍ Catabolic vs. Anabolic reactions.
Answer: Catabolic reactions break down molecules and release energy,
while anabolic reactions build complex molecules and require energy input.
◍ When you eat a meal, enzymes in your digestive system break down starch
into glucose. This is an example of catabolism and its (releases/ gains)
energy.
Answer: releases
◍ Reactions that build larger molecules from smaller molecules are ---------
reactions.
Answer: anabolic
◍ Competitive vs. Allosteric inhibition.
Answer: Competitive inhibition occurs when an inhibitor competes with the
substrate for the active site of an enzyme, while allosteric inhibition occurs
when an inhibitor binds to a site other than the active site, changing the
enzyme's shape and function.
◍ Reactions that break down larger molecules into smaller molecules are
------- reactions.
Answer: catabolic
◍ A molecule that is required by many enzymes to catalyze their reactions.
Answer: coenzyme
◍ When an end product of a metabolic pathway inhibits an enzyme that
catalyzes an early step in the pathway, this is called:.
Answer: feed inhibition
◍ Cofactors and coenzymes in enzyme activity.
Answer: Cofactors are non-protein molecules that assist enzymes in
catalyzing reactions, while coenzymes are organic molecules that serve as
carriers for chemical groups or electrons during the reaction.
◍ Physical factors affecting enzyme activity.
Answer: Enzyme activity can be affected by temperature, pH, substrate
, concentration, and the presence of inhibitors or activators, which can alter
the enzyme's structure and function.
◍ Allosteric inhibition and metabolic pathways.
Answer: Allosteric inhibition regulates metabolic pathways by binding to an
enzyme at a site other than the active site, causing a conformational change
that decreases the enzyme's activity, thus controlling the flow of
metabolites.
◍ Endomembrane system organization.
Answer: The endomembrane system includes the nuclear envelope, rough
and smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER), vesicles, Golgi apparatus, plasma
membrane, and lysosomes, which work together to synthesize, modify, and
transport proteins and lipids.
◍ Quinazolinone binds to a bacterial enzyme at a place other than the active
site, changing the shape of the enzyme and reducing its activity.
Quinazolinone is an example of a(n):.
Answer: allosteric inhibitor
◍ A competitive inhibitor competes with substrate for an -------- site of an
enzyme.
Answer: active
◍ A substance that speeds up or enables a chemical reaction is a.
Answer: catalyst
◍ A molecule that an enzyme binds to and acts upon is referred to as a.
Answer: substrate
◍ Substrates bind to an enzymes at the.
Answer: active site
◍ Functions of endomembrane system components.
Answer: Components of the endomembrane system have various functions,
including protein synthesis (rough ER), lipid synthesis (smooth ER),
packaging and shipping (Golgi), and degradation of waste (lysosomes).