Ap Bio Macromolecules

Amylase is an enzyme that converts carbohydrate polymers into monomers. Glycogen synthase is one of the enzymes involved in converting carbohydrate monomers into polymers. Which of the following best explains the reactions of these enzymes?

Amylase aids in the addition of a water molecule to break covalent bonds whereas glycogen synthase aids in the removal of a water molecule to form covalent bonds.

A common test for liver function involves sprinkling sulfur powder onto a sample of urine (mostly water with dissolved bodily waste). Sulfur powder sprinkled on a sample from an individual with impaired liver function will sink because the urine contains a high level of bile salts, while the sulfur powder sprinkled on normal urine samples will float. Which of the following best explains why bile salts cause the sulfur powder to sink?

Bile salts decrease the surface tension of the urine sample.

Which of the following best explains why a cell's plasma membrane is composed of two layers of phospholipids rather than just a single layer?

Having two oppositely oriented layers of phospholipids allows only the hydrophilic heads to interact with water inside and outside of the cell.

Based on Figure 1, which of the following best describes how the properties of water at an air-water interface enable an insect to walk on the water's surface?

Hydrogen bonds between molecules at the surface of the water provide surface tension, which allows the water surface to deform but not break under the insect.

Which of the following is responsible for the cohesive property of water?

Hydrogen bonds between the oxygen atom of one water molecule and a hydrogen atom of another water molecule

Based on the molecular structures shown in the figure, which molecule is likely to be solid at room temperature?

Palmitic acid, because the absence of carbon-carbon double bonds allows the molecules to pack closely together.

DNA and RNA are nucleic acids that can store biological information based on the sequence of their nucleotide monomers. Figure 1 shows a short segment of each of the two types of nucleic acids. Which of the following best describes a structural difference between DNA and RNA?

The backbone of DNADNA contains deoxyribose, whereas the backbone of RNARNA contains ribose.

Which of the following is an accurate description of the process shown in Figure 1 ?

The formation of a covalent peptide bond in a dehydration synthesis reaction

Humans produce sweat as a cooling mechanism to maintain a stable internal temperature. Which of the following best explains how the properties of water contribute to this physiological process?

The high heat of vaporization of water allows the body to remove excess heat through a phase change of water from liquid to gas.

Water and ammonia interact to form hydrogen bonds, as represented in the figure.

The nitrogen has a partial negative charge, and the hydrogen attached to the oxygen has a partial positive charge.

A mutation in the gene coding for a single-polypeptide enzyme results in the substitution of the amino acid serine, which has a polar R group, by the amino acid phenylalanine, which has a nonpolar R group. When researchers test the catalysis of the normal enzyme and the mutated enzyme, they find that the mutated enzyme has much lower activity than the normal enzyme does. Which of the following most likely explains how the amino acid substitution has resulted in decreased catalytic activity by the mutated enzyme?

The substitution altered the secondary and tertiary structure of the enzyme so that the mutated enzyme folds into a different shape than the normal enzyme does.

Which of the following best describes the structures of carbohydrates?

They occur as monomers, chains of monomers, and branched structures.

The diagram shows how water can adhere to the xylem in the stems of plants, which contributes to water movement in the plant. Which of the following best explains how water is able to move upward from the roots of a plant, through its xylem in the stem, and out to the leaves?

Water and the xylem are both polar. Water molecules have the ability to form hydrogen bonds with each other and with the walls of the xylem.