1|Page
NSC 408 Final Exam Questions
and Answers | Fall 2025/26
Update | 100% Correct Graded
A+
The relationship between vitamin D intake and risk for prostate cancer tells us
what? Ans: There is some optimal level of vitamin D intake for protecting
against prostate cancer, not too little, not too much.
Which of the following is a factor that helps determine the effect of a given
nutrient in our bodies? Ans: -dosage (how much is consumed)-nutrient timing
(when the nutrient is consumed)-genotype (mutations/polymorphisms)- co-
exposure (other environmental factors that can interact with the nutrient)
Which of the following are post-translational modifications of proteins? Ans: -
Phosphorylation
-Acetylation
-Methylation
After a gene is transcribed into messenger RNA,
_____
are generally spliced out, and excluded from the final mRNA transcript, while
most or all of the
______
,2|Page
which are known as the coding regions, remain, and are combined to create
the final mRNA transcript from which the protein is translated. Ans: -introns
-exons
How do humans possess millions of functional proteins in our bodies, despite
having a vastly smaller number of genes which encode for these proteins?
Ans: - Post-translational modifications of proteins (phosphorylation,
methylation, etc.) give proteins different structures and functions
- Differential/alternative splicing produces multiple different proteins per
gene
What information can be ascertained by using proteomic techniques? Ans: -
The presence of multiple proteins
- Quantities of multiple proteins
- Information about post-translational modifications
- Changes in protein networks
List two ways a change in DNA can lead to a change in nutrient metabolism.
Ans: ubiquitination and phosphorylation
Nitrogen waste from amino acid degradation is excreted in the urine in the
form of? Ans: Urea
In which organ does the urea cycle occur? Ans: liver
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl-CoA or
oxaloacetate. When pyruvate builds up faster than it is being used in the
,3|Page
Krebs cycle, what immediate alternative pathway does it take? Ans: It is
converted to lactate
ketogenic amino acids Ans: leucine and lysine
glucogenic amino acids Ans: all except leucine and lysine; can be converted
into intermediates that feed into gluconeogenesis
both ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids Ans: phenylalanine, isoleucine,
threonine, tryptophan and tyrosine
What is the major provider of carbons for gluconeogenesis in the absence of
glucose? Ans: amino acids
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl-CoA or
oxaloacetate. Under what conditions would you expect pyruvate to build up
faster than it is being used? Ans: - During anaerobic exercise
- When oxygen levels are insufficient for oxidative reactions
Excess amino acids are stored as proteins so that they can be used for energy
in times of fasting. Ans: false
Alanine transaminase
_____
(adds/removes) an amine group from/to alanine to create
_____ Ans: - removes
- urea
, 4|Page
Which of the following is true about Glucose-6-Phosphatase? Ans: - It is
required for the export of glucose into the blood
- It is primarily expressed in the liver
In a patient with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, who cannot generate
oxaloacetate, why not just treat the patient directly with oxaloacetate
supplementation? Ans: - Oxaloacetate is not able to cross the mitochondrial
membrane
Based on your knowledge of the metabolic pathways of glucose and amino
acids, which would most likely be elevated in a patient with a non-functioning
pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: - Blood alanine, blood lactate
Growth hormone is released from the
______ , and stimulates production of
____ in the ______
, which acts to decrease body fat and
______ (hint: increase or decrease?) muscle growth. Ans: - Pituitary gland
- IGF-1
- liver
- increase
Why do the GH transgenic salmon grow larger than wild type or domesticated
salmon?
NSC 408 Final Exam Questions
and Answers | Fall 2025/26
Update | 100% Correct Graded
A+
The relationship between vitamin D intake and risk for prostate cancer tells us
what? Ans: There is some optimal level of vitamin D intake for protecting
against prostate cancer, not too little, not too much.
Which of the following is a factor that helps determine the effect of a given
nutrient in our bodies? Ans: -dosage (how much is consumed)-nutrient timing
(when the nutrient is consumed)-genotype (mutations/polymorphisms)- co-
exposure (other environmental factors that can interact with the nutrient)
Which of the following are post-translational modifications of proteins? Ans: -
Phosphorylation
-Acetylation
-Methylation
After a gene is transcribed into messenger RNA,
_____
are generally spliced out, and excluded from the final mRNA transcript, while
most or all of the
______
,2|Page
which are known as the coding regions, remain, and are combined to create
the final mRNA transcript from which the protein is translated. Ans: -introns
-exons
How do humans possess millions of functional proteins in our bodies, despite
having a vastly smaller number of genes which encode for these proteins?
Ans: - Post-translational modifications of proteins (phosphorylation,
methylation, etc.) give proteins different structures and functions
- Differential/alternative splicing produces multiple different proteins per
gene
What information can be ascertained by using proteomic techniques? Ans: -
The presence of multiple proteins
- Quantities of multiple proteins
- Information about post-translational modifications
- Changes in protein networks
List two ways a change in DNA can lead to a change in nutrient metabolism.
Ans: ubiquitination and phosphorylation
Nitrogen waste from amino acid degradation is excreted in the urine in the
form of? Ans: Urea
In which organ does the urea cycle occur? Ans: liver
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl-CoA or
oxaloacetate. When pyruvate builds up faster than it is being used in the
,3|Page
Krebs cycle, what immediate alternative pathway does it take? Ans: It is
converted to lactate
ketogenic amino acids Ans: leucine and lysine
glucogenic amino acids Ans: all except leucine and lysine; can be converted
into intermediates that feed into gluconeogenesis
both ketogenic and glucogenic amino acids Ans: phenylalanine, isoleucine,
threonine, tryptophan and tyrosine
What is the major provider of carbons for gluconeogenesis in the absence of
glucose? Ans: amino acids
Under normal circumstances, pyruvate is converted to either acetyl-CoA or
oxaloacetate. Under what conditions would you expect pyruvate to build up
faster than it is being used? Ans: - During anaerobic exercise
- When oxygen levels are insufficient for oxidative reactions
Excess amino acids are stored as proteins so that they can be used for energy
in times of fasting. Ans: false
Alanine transaminase
_____
(adds/removes) an amine group from/to alanine to create
_____ Ans: - removes
- urea
, 4|Page
Which of the following is true about Glucose-6-Phosphatase? Ans: - It is
required for the export of glucose into the blood
- It is primarily expressed in the liver
In a patient with pyruvate carboxylase deficiency, who cannot generate
oxaloacetate, why not just treat the patient directly with oxaloacetate
supplementation? Ans: - Oxaloacetate is not able to cross the mitochondrial
membrane
Based on your knowledge of the metabolic pathways of glucose and amino
acids, which would most likely be elevated in a patient with a non-functioning
pyruvate carboxylase (PC) enzyme? Ans: - Blood alanine, blood lactate
Growth hormone is released from the
______ , and stimulates production of
____ in the ______
, which acts to decrease body fat and
______ (hint: increase or decrease?) muscle growth. Ans: - Pituitary gland
- IGF-1
- liver
- increase
Why do the GH transgenic salmon grow larger than wild type or domesticated
salmon?
