Exam 2: The Chemical Basis of Life

Carbon's suitability as the molecular framework for biochemicals stems from its:

Which of these functional groups is the LEAST polar? Refer to Table 2.2 for more information if you are uncertain of the molecular structure of each one.

You treat a partially purified preparation of protein with a reagent that breaks bonds between sulfur atoms. Which level(s)of protein structure are most likely to be affected? (Select all that apply)

A release of hydrogen ions to a solution would most likely ____________.

RNA and DNA NEVER differ in the functional groups attached to: (Select all that apply)

The isotope of hydrogen which is radioactive ________________________.

You discover a novel protozoan which seems able to exist in the extreme salinity of the Dead Sea. Comparative examination of its enzyme structures against those of non-halophilic protozoa are most likely to reveal that ________________.

What kind of noncovalent interaction is typified by interactions between two molecules that are so close together that they can experience weak attractive forces bonding them together?

Which of the groups participates exclusively in hydrophilic interactions?

Where are hydrophobic interactions most likely to occur?

Which of the following tripeptides would be most likely to be soluble in an organic (hydrophobic)solvent like benzene?

How do amino acids like hydroxylysine and thyroxine, which are not among the 20 amino acids inserted into amino acid chains, get into proteins?

Which organism would be a good candidate for researching genes related to nitrogen fixation?

The optimal interatomic distance for strong Van der Waals interactions between atoms of two molecules is about:

Which of the following is a nucleotide?

Which of these functional groups would make a biochemical more soluble in water? (Select all that apply)

At higher proton concentrations, proteins are likely to possess:

Why is silicon not suitable for making covalent bonds stable and strong enough to form the basis of living organisms, even though it is just below carbon on the periodic table?

Why do sugars tend to be highly water soluble?

You are studying a protein. It binds to elongating polypeptide chains as they emerge from an exit channel within the ribosome's large subunit. It appears to prevent partially formed or nascent polypeptides from binding to other proteins in the cytosol, which might cause them either to aggregate or misfold. What kind of proteins is this likely to be?