Question 1

Which functional group is primarily responsible for the acidic properties of amino acids and is found at the end of their structure?

Accepted Answer

Carboxyl ($-COOH$)

Question 2

Which type of bond links monosaccharides together to form polysaccharides such as cellulose and starch?

Accepted Answer

Glycosidic bond

Question 3

A scientist is studying a membrane protein that has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions. Which type of molecule is most likely to interact with both regions and help form the membrane structure?

Accepted Answer

Phospholipid

Question 4

Which of the following is the correct sequence for the levels of protein structure, from simplest to most complex?

Accepted Answer

Primary $\rightarrow$ Secondary $\rightarrow$ Tertiary $\rightarrow$ Quaternary

Question 5

During glycolysis, what is the net gain of ATP molecules per molecule of glucose?

Accepted Answer

$2$ ATP

Question 6

Which energy carrier is primarily used for anabolic reactions such as biosynthesis of nucleic acids and fatty acids?

Accepted Answer

NADPH

Question 7

A bacterial cell is placed in a hypertonic solution. What process will occur, and what is the likely outcome for the cell?

Accepted Answer

Osmosis; water leaves the cell, causing plasmolysis

Question 8

Which of the following is a major structural carbohydrate found in the cell walls of fungi and the exoskeletons of arthropods?

Accepted Answer

Chitin

Question 9

Which metabolic pathway is responsible for converting pyruvate into acetyl-CoA before entering the Krebs cycle?

Accepted Answer

Transition reaction

Question 10

A competitive inhibitor affects enzyme activity by:

Accepted Answer

Binding to the active site and blocking substrate access

Question 11

Which molecule is the final electron acceptor in aerobic respiration?

Accepted Answer

Oxygen ($O_2$)

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a function of microbial membranes?

Accepted Answer

Protein synthesis

Question 13

Which type of microorganism uses light as its energy source and organic compounds as its carbon source?

Accepted Answer

Photoheterotroph

Question 14

Which of the following bonds is responsible for linking nucleotides together in the backbone of DNA and RNA?

Accepted Answer

Phosphodiester bond

Question 15

A mutation causes a protein to lose its tertiary structure but retain its primary structure. Which bonds are most likely to remain intact?

Accepted Answer

Peptide bonds

Question 16

Which of the following is a storage molecule in bacteria that allows for quick mobilization of glucose?

Accepted Answer

Glycogen

Question 17

Which process is used by cells to break down polymers into monomers, and what molecule is required for this reaction?

Accepted Answer

Hydrolysis; water

Question 18

Which cell wall component is unique to bacteria and is targeted by antibiotics such as penicillin?

Accepted Answer

Peptidoglycan (NAG-NAM)

Question 19

Which of the following is a function of ATP in microbial cells?

Accepted Answer

Serves as a direct energy source for many cellular reactions

Question 20

A microbe is classified as a chemoautotroph. What does this mean about its energy and carbon sources?

Accepted Answer

Uses chemicals for energy and inorganic compounds for carbon

Microbial Biochemistry & Metabolism: Core Concepts and Exam Guide

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