GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology : Cellular Metabolism

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #14 :Help With The Electron Transport Chain

You are studying three different reduction-oxidation couples in the electron transport chain. Their energies are as follows:

"A" +.02 V

"B" - .31 V

"C" - .41 V

What correctly describes the flow of electrons through these redox couples?

Possible Answers:

A, B, C

A, C, B

B, C, A

C, A, B

C, B, A

Correct answer:

C, B, A

Explanation:

Electrons flow throughout the electron transport chain via redox reactions. They flow from the most negative voltage to the most positive voltage within the chain. Thus the correct flow would be from C (most negative) to B (Less negative) to A (most positive).

Example Question #1 :Help With Light Reactions

Which molecule transfers electrons from photosystem II to photosystem I?

Possible Answers:

Cytochrome c

NADP+

Ferredoxin

Plastocyanin

Correct answer:

Plastocyanin

Explanation:

Photosystems I and II are each capable of conducting electrons, with photosystem II handing off electrons to photosystem I. This is accomplished by the electron carrier molecule plastocyanin.

Example Question #2 :Help With Light Reactions

Which product is made in photosystem I?

Possible Answers:

NADH

ATP

NADPH

Glucose

Correct answer:

NADPH

Explanation:

Photosystems I and II are responsible for the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. These two photosystems work in tandem to create ATP and NADPH products. ATP is created in photosystem II, while NADPH is created in photosystem I.

Example Question #3 :Help With Light Reactions

What fuels ATP synthase to make ATP from ADP + Piin the light reaction of photosynthesis?

Possible Answers:

Light excites photosystem I to generate electrons that pass through the thylakoid membrane to excite ATP synthase to generate ATP

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen ions accumulate in the thylakoid space. Hydrogen moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

NADPH is formed from NADP+reductase in the thylakoid membrane. NADPH can then donate hydrogen to ATP synthase to fuel the synthesis of ATP

The mechanism by which ATP synthase is fueled is not entirely known

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen accumulates in the thylakoid space. Oxygen then moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

Correct answer:

Light excites photosystem II to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen ions accumulate in the thylakoid space. Hydrogen moves down its concentration gradient from the thylakoid space to the stroma by passing through ATP synthase, fueling the synthesis of ATP

Explanation:

Excitation of photosystem II splits water in the thylakoid space into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen then passes through ATP synthase to move down its concentration gradient and into the stroma. Excitation of photosystem I passes electrons to NADP+reductase to convert NADP+to NADPH. Regeneration of NADPH is necessary for the Calvin cycle.

Example Question #4 :Help With Light Reactions

在光合作用的光反应,of the following molecules acts as the electron acceptor?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Electrons excited in photosystem I are accepted by, thus convertingto.is the reduced form ofand whileacts as an electron acceptor in certain reactions, the light reactions utilizewhich has an extra phosphate.andare not used to accept electrons in this context.

Example Question #1 :Help With The Calvin Cycle

What molecule is remade in the Calvin cycle so that carbon dioxide can attach when entering?

Possible Answers:

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

Glucose-6-phosphate

1,3-bisphosphoglycerate

Correct answer:

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

Explanation:

In order to keep the Calvin cycle going, the 5-carbon molecule that carbon dioxide attaches to in the first step must be remade at the end of the cycle. This molecule is called ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, or RuBP.

Example Question #2 :Help With The Calvin Cycle

Which of the following is an advantage of C4 photosynthesis compared to C3 photosynthesis?

Possible Answers:

The calvin cycle in C4 plants does not require NADPH; therefore, the light reactions are more efficient because they do not have to regenerate NADPH from NADP+

C3 plants are more suitable than C4 plants for growth in arid climates because they keep their stroma closed longer than C4 plants.

C3 plants fix carbon dioxide through rubisco; however, oxygen competes for rubisco binding, reducing the ability for C3 plants to fix carbon. C4 plants use phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase instead of rubisco, which binds carbon dioxide specifically.

C3 plants have fewer photosystems than C4 plants; as a result, C4 plants are able to utlize a broader spectra of light in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

C3 plants physically separate carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle, whereas C4 plants execute both processes in the chloroplast stroma.

Correct answer:

C3 plants fix carbon dioxide through rubisco; however, oxygen competes for rubisco binding, reducing the ability for C3 plants to fix carbon. C4 plants use phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) carboxylase instead of rubisco, which binds carbon dioxide specifically.

Explanation:

C3 plants use rubisco to fix carbon dioxide; however, oxygen also competes for binding. C4 plants have evolved to use PEP carboxylase, which only binds carbon dioxide, eliminating competition with oxygen. Furthermore, C4 plants separate carbon fixation and the Calvin cycle by location, but C3 plants do not. The light reactions of C3 and C4 plants are very similar, but C4 plants are more suited for arid climates due to their ability to close their stroma for longer periods of time to prevent water loss.

Example Question #3 :Help With The Calvin Cycle

Plants that utilize only the Calvin cycle to__________carbon dioxide are known as__________plants.

Possible Answers:

phosphorylate . . . C3

oxidize . . . C2

fix . . . C3

fix . . . C2

oxidize . . . C3

Correct answer:

fix . . . C3

Explanation:

The purpose of the Calvin cycle is thefixationof carbon dioxide, which essentially turns inorganic carbon dioxide into an organic compound that can be used for energy production.C3plants only use the Calvin cycle, whereas C4 plants can use a number of processes to fix carbon, including the use of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEP carboxylase).

Example Question #1 :Help With Anabolism

Which of the following mnemonics is helpful in remembering the relationship between anabolism and catabolism?

Possible Answers:

RICE

ABCD

PAD

STEVE

AWSOME

Correct answer:

ABCD

Explanation:

ABCD correlates to anabolism=build catabolism=destroy. Anabolism is the constructive phase of metabolism during which tissues are built. Catabolism is the opposite of anabolism, representing the destructive phase of metabolism. Metabolism is the total of all the chemical changes that take place in the body.

STEVE is the pathway of sperm through the male reproductive system: Seminiferous Tubules, Epididymis, Vas Deferens, Ejaculatory duct. PAD is the layers of the meninges: Piamater, Arachnoid mater, Dura mater. RICE refers to the treatment for an injury to a joint: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. AWSOME is the signs and symptoms of depression: Affect flat, Weight change, Energy loss, Sad feelings, Others (guilt, loss of pleasure, hopelessness), Memory loss, Emotional blunting.

Example Question #1 :Help With Catabolism

__________is an enzyme used to help break down glycogen. The end product is__________.

Possible Answers:

Glycogen phosphorylase . . . glucose-6-phosphate

Glycogen phosphorylase . . . glucose-1-phosphate

Glycogen phosphatase . . . glucose-1-phosphate

Glycogen phosphatase . . . glucose-6-phosphate

Correct answer:

Glycogen phosphorylase . . . glucose-1-phosphate

Explanation:

Phosphorylases are enzymes that attach phosphate groups to acceptors by breaking a chemical bond. Phosphatases are enzymes thatremovephosphate groups.

Glycogen catabolism occurs by activation of glycogen phosphorylase, which then catalyzes the reaction of glycogen into glucose-1-phosphate (and a glycogen chain that is one glucose shorter).

All GRE Subject Test: Biochemistry, Cell, and Molecular Biology Resources

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