WGU C785 EXAM WITH 100%
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
What is the basic structure of an amino acid? What do they look
like? correct answer amino group (NH2 or NH3), carboxyl
group (COO or COOH), alpha carbon (C), and variable group
How do you identify the 3 different types of side chains: non-
polar/hydrophobic, polar, and charged? correct answer Non-
polar/hydrophobic - end with CH or "can't have" water. Polar - end
with OH, SH, or NH. Charged - end with a charge
what kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains
make? correct answer ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
What are the 4 levels of protein structure? correct answer
Primary - linear structure, Secondary - Folded into helix or pleated
sheet caused by hydrogen bonding, tertiary - 3D structure caused
by side chain interactions, quaternary - 1+ amino acid chains
combine = multiple subunits MUST have 1+ subunit
What enviormental change breaks each type of bond? correct
answer hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or
decreased pH, hydrogen - temperature, change in pH, disulfide -
reducing agents
,what type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregration?
correct answer hydrophobic bonds
how do environmental changes affect protein folding? correct
answer Extreme temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart
= malformation of protein folding
how do mutations affect protein structure? correct answer Can
cause structure to change. Protein loses form = loses function.
May form a different protein.
What is an electron? correct answer Negatively charged atom
on outer ring for bonding
What is energy: correct answer Power derived fro chemical
interaction
what are covalent bonds? correct answer chemical bond,
atoms share 1+ valence electrons
what is an ionic bond? correct answer bond between positive
and negative
what is a hydrogen bond? correct answer weak bond between
positive and negative
with an amino? correct answer piece of amino acid, NH2 or
NH3
,what is a carboyxl? correct answer piece of amino acid, COO or
COOH
What is hydrophobic? correct answer Doesn't like water, end
with CH
what is hydrophilic? correct answer Water Lovering, end with
OH, NH, or SH
what is disulfide bond? correct answer strongest bond between
reduction agents, formed between SH's.
what are zwitterions? correct answer amino with positive and
negative charges = overall charge of zero
what is a polypeptide correct answer polymer of amino acids
What is dehydration synthesis? correct answer Process of
forming peptide bonds
what is hydrolysis? correct answer adding water to destroy
bonds
what is an alpha helix? correct answer twisted secondary
structure, formed by hydrogen bonds
what is a beta sheet? correct answer folded second structure
shape, formed by hydrogen bonds
, what is denaturation? correct answer loss of shape duet o
interruption of chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, pH
what is aggregation? correct answer clumping of inner or outer
cellular proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases
such as Alzheimers, ALS, Parkinson's
how do enzymes catalyze reactions? correct answer bind with
substrates to decrease activation energy required and decrease
reaction rate
how do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy?
correct answer decrease activation energy and decrease
reaction rate
what are the 4 steps of the enzymatic cycle? correct answer
enzyme recognizes substrate, substrate attracts the enzyme;
enzyme-substrate complex is formed; enzyme-product complex
formed; product is released, enzyme recycled
how do environmental changes affect enzymes? correct answer
High heat, pH change, high salt concentration, and reducing
agents can cause an enzyme to lose its form/lose function
what is a competitive inhibitor? correct answer Mimics
substrate and takes its place on the active binding site
CORRECT ANSWERS 2026
What is the basic structure of an amino acid? What do they look
like? correct answer amino group (NH2 or NH3), carboxyl
group (COO or COOH), alpha carbon (C), and variable group
How do you identify the 3 different types of side chains: non-
polar/hydrophobic, polar, and charged? correct answer Non-
polar/hydrophobic - end with CH or "can't have" water. Polar - end
with OH, SH, or NH. Charged - end with a charge
what kinds of bonds do each of the 3 different types of side chains
make? correct answer ionic, hydrophobic/non-polar, charged
What are the 4 levels of protein structure? correct answer
Primary - linear structure, Secondary - Folded into helix or pleated
sheet caused by hydrogen bonding, tertiary - 3D structure caused
by side chain interactions, quaternary - 1+ amino acid chains
combine = multiple subunits MUST have 1+ subunit
What enviormental change breaks each type of bond? correct
answer hydrophobic - temperature change, ionic - salt or
decreased pH, hydrogen - temperature, change in pH, disulfide -
reducing agents
,what type of amino acid side chain leads to protein aggregration?
correct answer hydrophobic bonds
how do environmental changes affect protein folding? correct
answer Extreme temp can cause hydrogen bonds to break apart
= malformation of protein folding
how do mutations affect protein structure? correct answer Can
cause structure to change. Protein loses form = loses function.
May form a different protein.
What is an electron? correct answer Negatively charged atom
on outer ring for bonding
What is energy: correct answer Power derived fro chemical
interaction
what are covalent bonds? correct answer chemical bond,
atoms share 1+ valence electrons
what is an ionic bond? correct answer bond between positive
and negative
what is a hydrogen bond? correct answer weak bond between
positive and negative
with an amino? correct answer piece of amino acid, NH2 or
NH3
,what is a carboyxl? correct answer piece of amino acid, COO or
COOH
What is hydrophobic? correct answer Doesn't like water, end
with CH
what is hydrophilic? correct answer Water Lovering, end with
OH, NH, or SH
what is disulfide bond? correct answer strongest bond between
reduction agents, formed between SH's.
what are zwitterions? correct answer amino with positive and
negative charges = overall charge of zero
what is a polypeptide correct answer polymer of amino acids
What is dehydration synthesis? correct answer Process of
forming peptide bonds
what is hydrolysis? correct answer adding water to destroy
bonds
what is an alpha helix? correct answer twisted secondary
structure, formed by hydrogen bonds
what is a beta sheet? correct answer folded second structure
shape, formed by hydrogen bonds
, what is denaturation? correct answer loss of shape duet o
interruption of chemical bonds; occurs via extreme salt, temp, pH
what is aggregation? correct answer clumping of inner or outer
cellular proteins caused by misfolded proteins leading to diseases
such as Alzheimers, ALS, Parkinson's
how do enzymes catalyze reactions? correct answer bind with
substrates to decrease activation energy required and decrease
reaction rate
how do enzymes affect reaction rate and activation energy?
correct answer decrease activation energy and decrease
reaction rate
what are the 4 steps of the enzymatic cycle? correct answer
enzyme recognizes substrate, substrate attracts the enzyme;
enzyme-substrate complex is formed; enzyme-product complex
formed; product is released, enzyme recycled
how do environmental changes affect enzymes? correct answer
High heat, pH change, high salt concentration, and reducing
agents can cause an enzyme to lose its form/lose function
what is a competitive inhibitor? correct answer Mimics
substrate and takes its place on the active binding site
