CPC CPC Biochemistry & Biological Chemistry 2

Question 1

Competitive inhibition of an enzyme is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Unchanged Vmax and increased apparent Km

Answer

Competitive inhibitors bind at the active site, competing with substrate; high [S] can overcome inhibition, so Vmax is unchanged, but apparent Km increases (lower apparent affinity).

Question 2

Which reaction is catalyzed by DNA polymerase during DNA replication?

Accepted Answer

Adding nucleotides to the 3'-OH end of a growing strand

Answer

DNA polymerase catalyzes the addition of dNTPs to the free 3'-OH of the growing chain, reading the template 3'→5' and synthesizing 5'→3' with high fidelity.

Question 3

In the context of biochemistry, the term 'reducing sugar' refers to a sugar that:

Accepted Answer

Contains a free anomeric hydroxyl group capable of acting as a reducing agent

Answer

Reducing sugars have a free anomeric -OH group that can open to the aldehyde or keto form, allowing them to reduce oxidizing agents (e.g., Benedict's reagent, Fehling's solution).

Question 4

Which process describes the flow of genetic information according to the central dogma of molecular biology?

Accepted Answer

DNA → RNA → Protein

Answer

The central dogma states that genetic information flows from DNA (replication) → RNA (transcription) → Protein (translation), with reverse transcription as a special exception.

Question 5

Beta-oxidation of fatty acids occurs in which cellular location and produces which primary products?

Accepted Answer

Mitochondrial matrix; acetyl-CoA, NADH, and FADH2

Answer

Beta-oxidation in the mitochondrial matrix (and peroxisomes for very long-chain fatty acids) sequentially cleaves two-carbon units as acetyl-CoA while generating NADH and FADH2 for ATP production.

(CPC) Certified Professional Chemist Practice Test

(CPC) Certified Professional Chemist Practice Test

CPC CPC Biochemistry & Biological Chemistry 2