UNE Medical Biochemistry
UNE Biochemistry Final Exam Study Questions
with Correct Detailed Answers 2025
The glucose-alanine cycle is a method of transferring ammonia from the skeletal muscle
to the liver. In this process the non-toxic carrier of ammonia is which of the following
compounds? -Correct Answer ✔Alanine
Which of the following enzymes is correctly paired with its activator? -Correct Answer
✔N-acetyl glutamate synthetase; arginine
The urea cycle takes place in which of the following subcellular locations? -Correct
Answer ✔the cytosol and the mitochondria
Which of the following enzymes is regulated by N-acetyl glutamate (NAGs)? -Correct
Answer ✔CPS I
Which of the following enzymes is the regulatory step in the urea cycle? -Correct Answer
✔Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS I)
Which of the following statements is consistent with nitrogen transport in the fasted
state? -Correct Answer ✔The urea cycle will be active
A comatose infant is brought to the ER. In the course of the examination, plasma
ammonia was found to be elevated 20-fold over normal values. Urine orotic acid and
uracil were both greater than normal. A defect of which of the following enzymes is the
most likely diagnosis? -Correct Answer ✔Ornithine transcarboxylase
UNE Medical Biochemistry
,UNE Medical Biochemistry
Your patient presents with a deficiency of the enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of N-
acetyl glutamate (NAGs). Which of the following would be a consequence of this
deficiency in the patient? -Correct Answer ✔Increased amino acids in the blood
The cellular uptake of LDL increases intracellular cholesterol levels. This has which of the
following impacts on de novo cholesterol synthesis? -Correct Answer ✔Increases
degradation of HMG-CoA reductase
Dietary cholesterol is primarily transported in the body by which of the following
lipoproteins? -Correct Answer ✔Chylomicron
Secondary bile salts are generated by bacterial modification of primary bile salts in the
intestinal lumen. These modifications have which of the following impacts on bile salt
solubility? -Correct Answer ✔Decrease solubility
A 47-year-old male is prescribed a statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) to manage his
elevated LDL cholesterol. What is the initial mechanism of action for obtaining the
desired effect in this man? -Correct Answer ✔Decreasing hepatic cholesterol
biosynthesis
A deficiency in the LDL receptor will result in an initial decrease in which of the
following? -Correct Answer ✔Intracellular cholesterol
A 45-year-old man has a mild heart attack and a history of vascular disease. He is placed
on a Mediterranean diet and statin drug therapy. Which of the following will be the most
likely result of this drug therapy? -Correct Answer ✔Low blood LDLs
A 45-year-old man is found to have an elevated serum triglycerides of > 730mg/dL. He
tells you he forgot to fast before his visit and he ate a full breakfast of bacon and eggs
before the labs were drawn. Which of the following lipoproteins would be the largest
UNE Medical Biochemistry
,UNE Medical Biochemistry
contributors to a measurement of plasma triglycerides in this situation? -Correct Answer
✔Chylomicrons and VLDLs
In the reaction catalyzed by cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), the VLDL particle
receives which of the following compounds from HDL particles? -Correct Answer
✔Cholesterol-ester
In reverse cholesterol transport HDL interacts with the ABCA1 transporter to move
cholesterol from the cell to the HDL. This also requires the activity of which of the
following enzyme? -Correct Answer ✔Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)
HDL particles interact with VLDL particles to exchange cholesterol ester for
triacylglyerols. Which of the following enzymes is responsible for this process? -Correct
Answer ✔Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)
Which of the following is a major source of extracellular cholesterol for human tissues? -
Correct Answer ✔LDLs
An individual is suspected of having a deficiency in branched chain keto acid
dehydrogenase. Supplementation of which of the following vitamins or cofactors may
help resolve this issue? -Correct Answer ✔Thiamine
A 55-year old man presents to his primary care physician with bouts of dizziness and
confusion. He is diagnosed with hyperhomocysteinemia due to a deficiency of
cystathionine-ß synthase. In this individual which of the following amino acids could
potentially become essential? -Correct Answer ✔Cysteine
Phenylketonuria can be caused by an enzymatic deficiency or it can present due to a
deficiency in which of the following required metabolic cofactors? -Correct Answer
✔Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)
UNE Medical Biochemistry
, UNE Medical Biochemistry
A 17-year old female presents to her primary care and is diagnosed with a Vitamin B12
(cobalamin) deficiency. In this individual, which of the following reactions would be
compromised? -Correct Answer ✔Conversion of methyl malonyl-Co A to succinyl-CoA
A 15-year-old female presents to her pediatrician with concerns over her inability to
sleep, increased feelings of depression and generalized fatigue. A full laboratory work-up
is ordered and based on these findings she is diagnosed with a melatonin deficiency.
Based on this information, metabolism of which of the following amino acids is likely
impaired? -Correct Answer ✔Tryptophan
A 52-year- old male sought medical help complaining about progressive appearance of
hyperchromic (hyper pigmented) papules on the edge of the second finger of both
hands. He also complained about darkening of urine. Incisional biopsy of one of the
spots on his hands and urine sample tested positive for or homogentisic acid. Based on
these findings a diagnosis of alkaptonuria is made. This diagnosis is consistent with a
deficiency in which of the following enzymes? -Correct Answer ✔Homogentisate oxidase
Methotrexate is a potent anticancer agent that starves dividing cells of
deoxyribonucleotides through direct inhibition of which of the following processes? -
Correct Answer ✔Metabolism of folic acid
A 47-year-old man complains of pain in the joints of his left big toe, which are obviously
swollen and tender. The pain has been chronic but became intolerable the day after
Thanksgiving when he had a large meal and several glasses of red wine. Based on this
information a diagnosis of gout is made. Which of the following is involved in the
pathophysiology of this patient's condition? -Correct Answer ✔Elevated uric acid
Which of the following is the common intermediate for purine synthesis? -Correct
Answer ✔Inosine monophosphate
UNE Medical Biochemistry
UNE Biochemistry Final Exam Study Questions
with Correct Detailed Answers 2025
The glucose-alanine cycle is a method of transferring ammonia from the skeletal muscle
to the liver. In this process the non-toxic carrier of ammonia is which of the following
compounds? -Correct Answer ✔Alanine
Which of the following enzymes is correctly paired with its activator? -Correct Answer
✔N-acetyl glutamate synthetase; arginine
The urea cycle takes place in which of the following subcellular locations? -Correct
Answer ✔the cytosol and the mitochondria
Which of the following enzymes is regulated by N-acetyl glutamate (NAGs)? -Correct
Answer ✔CPS I
Which of the following enzymes is the regulatory step in the urea cycle? -Correct Answer
✔Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS I)
Which of the following statements is consistent with nitrogen transport in the fasted
state? -Correct Answer ✔The urea cycle will be active
A comatose infant is brought to the ER. In the course of the examination, plasma
ammonia was found to be elevated 20-fold over normal values. Urine orotic acid and
uracil were both greater than normal. A defect of which of the following enzymes is the
most likely diagnosis? -Correct Answer ✔Ornithine transcarboxylase
UNE Medical Biochemistry
,UNE Medical Biochemistry
Your patient presents with a deficiency of the enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of N-
acetyl glutamate (NAGs). Which of the following would be a consequence of this
deficiency in the patient? -Correct Answer ✔Increased amino acids in the blood
The cellular uptake of LDL increases intracellular cholesterol levels. This has which of the
following impacts on de novo cholesterol synthesis? -Correct Answer ✔Increases
degradation of HMG-CoA reductase
Dietary cholesterol is primarily transported in the body by which of the following
lipoproteins? -Correct Answer ✔Chylomicron
Secondary bile salts are generated by bacterial modification of primary bile salts in the
intestinal lumen. These modifications have which of the following impacts on bile salt
solubility? -Correct Answer ✔Decrease solubility
A 47-year-old male is prescribed a statin (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) to manage his
elevated LDL cholesterol. What is the initial mechanism of action for obtaining the
desired effect in this man? -Correct Answer ✔Decreasing hepatic cholesterol
biosynthesis
A deficiency in the LDL receptor will result in an initial decrease in which of the
following? -Correct Answer ✔Intracellular cholesterol
A 45-year-old man has a mild heart attack and a history of vascular disease. He is placed
on a Mediterranean diet and statin drug therapy. Which of the following will be the most
likely result of this drug therapy? -Correct Answer ✔Low blood LDLs
A 45-year-old man is found to have an elevated serum triglycerides of > 730mg/dL. He
tells you he forgot to fast before his visit and he ate a full breakfast of bacon and eggs
before the labs were drawn. Which of the following lipoproteins would be the largest
UNE Medical Biochemistry
,UNE Medical Biochemistry
contributors to a measurement of plasma triglycerides in this situation? -Correct Answer
✔Chylomicrons and VLDLs
In the reaction catalyzed by cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP), the VLDL particle
receives which of the following compounds from HDL particles? -Correct Answer
✔Cholesterol-ester
In reverse cholesterol transport HDL interacts with the ABCA1 transporter to move
cholesterol from the cell to the HDL. This also requires the activity of which of the
following enzyme? -Correct Answer ✔Lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT)
HDL particles interact with VLDL particles to exchange cholesterol ester for
triacylglyerols. Which of the following enzymes is responsible for this process? -Correct
Answer ✔Cholesterol ester transfer protein (CETP)
Which of the following is a major source of extracellular cholesterol for human tissues? -
Correct Answer ✔LDLs
An individual is suspected of having a deficiency in branched chain keto acid
dehydrogenase. Supplementation of which of the following vitamins or cofactors may
help resolve this issue? -Correct Answer ✔Thiamine
A 55-year old man presents to his primary care physician with bouts of dizziness and
confusion. He is diagnosed with hyperhomocysteinemia due to a deficiency of
cystathionine-ß synthase. In this individual which of the following amino acids could
potentially become essential? -Correct Answer ✔Cysteine
Phenylketonuria can be caused by an enzymatic deficiency or it can present due to a
deficiency in which of the following required metabolic cofactors? -Correct Answer
✔Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4)
UNE Medical Biochemistry
, UNE Medical Biochemistry
A 17-year old female presents to her primary care and is diagnosed with a Vitamin B12
(cobalamin) deficiency. In this individual, which of the following reactions would be
compromised? -Correct Answer ✔Conversion of methyl malonyl-Co A to succinyl-CoA
A 15-year-old female presents to her pediatrician with concerns over her inability to
sleep, increased feelings of depression and generalized fatigue. A full laboratory work-up
is ordered and based on these findings she is diagnosed with a melatonin deficiency.
Based on this information, metabolism of which of the following amino acids is likely
impaired? -Correct Answer ✔Tryptophan
A 52-year- old male sought medical help complaining about progressive appearance of
hyperchromic (hyper pigmented) papules on the edge of the second finger of both
hands. He also complained about darkening of urine. Incisional biopsy of one of the
spots on his hands and urine sample tested positive for or homogentisic acid. Based on
these findings a diagnosis of alkaptonuria is made. This diagnosis is consistent with a
deficiency in which of the following enzymes? -Correct Answer ✔Homogentisate oxidase
Methotrexate is a potent anticancer agent that starves dividing cells of
deoxyribonucleotides through direct inhibition of which of the following processes? -
Correct Answer ✔Metabolism of folic acid
A 47-year-old man complains of pain in the joints of his left big toe, which are obviously
swollen and tender. The pain has been chronic but became intolerable the day after
Thanksgiving when he had a large meal and several glasses of red wine. Based on this
information a diagnosis of gout is made. Which of the following is involved in the
pathophysiology of this patient's condition? -Correct Answer ✔Elevated uric acid
Which of the following is the common intermediate for purine synthesis? -Correct
Answer ✔Inosine monophosphate
UNE Medical Biochemistry
