Unit 3 Progress Check

A researcher proposes a model to explain how enzyme-substrate interactions determine enzyme specificity. The model is based on the idea that substrate molecules form favorable interactions with the amino acid side chains in an enzyme's active site. Based on the model, which of the following statements best explains an enzyme's specificity for a particular substrate molecule?

A molecule with negative charges interacts with positively charged side chains in the enzyme's active site.

A researcher claims that a certain herbicide suppresses plant growth by inhibiting chloroplast function. To test the claim, the researcher treats isolated chloroplasts with increasing concentrations of the herbicide. The data from the experiment are presented in Table 1. Which of the following statements best clarifies how the data support the researcher's claim?

ATPATP synthase activity depends on a proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane.

A researcher claims that the initial rise of oxygen in Earth's early atmosphere, which occurred approximately 2.3 billion years ago, resulted from the metabolic activity of prokaryotic organisms. The claim is based on an interpretation of the geochemical and fossil evidence represented in Figure 1. Which of the following types of evidence will best support the researcher's claim?

Evidence that the cyanobacteria produced oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis

Researchers investigated the effect of urea on the three-dimensional structure of a certain enzyme. The researchers dissolved the enzyme in an aqueous buffer solution and added urea to the solution. The enzyme did not appear to have a secondary or tertiary structure. The researchers carefully removed the urea from the solution and determined that the enzyme had the original secondary and tertiary structure again. Based on the results of the experiment, which of the following statements best predicts the effect of urea on the enzyme's function?

Function will be disrupted by adding the urea and regained by removing the urea.

A researcher claims that spinach leaves capture the most energy from light waves in the range of 500 nm to 600 nm. To test the claim, the researcher will place spinach leaves in separate chambers and expose the leaves to different wavelengths of light. For each chamber, the researcher will measure the amount of oxygen gas (O2) that is produced in one hour. Which of the following graphs best represents data from the experiment that will support the researcher's claim?

Increasing, levels out, decreasing

Aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALAD) is an enzyme that relies on zinc as a coenzyme. A zinc ion binds to the ALAD active site, where it forms favorable interactions with the side chains of three amino acids. Researchers have found that substituting a lead ion for a zinc ion in the ALAD active site causes inhibition of ALAD. Which of the following statements best helps explain how the lead ion causes inhibition of ALAD?

It changes the three-dimensional structure of the active site so that ALAD is no longer compatible with its substrate.

Pectinase is a protein that catalyzes the breakdown of pectic polysaccharides in plant cell walls. A researcher designs an experiment to investigate the effect of salinity on the ability of pectinase to lower the activation energy of the reaction involved. The design of the experiment is presented in Table 1. For each test tube, the researcher will measure the amount of product formed over 20 minutes. Which of the following statements best helps justify the inclusion of test tube 5 in the experiment?

It will act as a control for test tube 6 by showing the effect of the presence or absence of the enzyme.

A researcher designs an experiment to investigate whether soil bacteria trigger the synthesis of defense enzymes in plant roots. The design of the experiment is presented in Table 1. For each group in the experiment, the researcher will determine the average rate of change in the amount of defense enzymes in the roots of the seedlings. Which of the following statements best helps justify the inclusion of group 2 as one of the controls in the experiment?

It will show whether the changes observed in group 1 depend on the metabolic activity of soil bacteria.

Researchers investigated the influence of environmental pH on the activity of peroxidase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas. In an experiment, the researchers added a hydrogen peroxide solution containing guaiacol to several identical test tubes and adjusted the solution in each test tube to a different pH. The researchers included the guaiacol because it caused the solutions to change color as the reactions proceeded, which the researchers relied on for measuring reaction rates. Finally, the researchers added the same amount of peroxidase to each test tube and measured the rate of each reaction at 23°C. The results of the experiment are represented in Figure 1. Based on Figure 1, which of the following statements best predicts the effect that a change from a moderately acidic environment (pH near 6) to a basic environment will have on peroxidase activity?

Peroxidase activity will decrease

A researcher claims that the incorporation of carbon dioxide into organic molecules during photosynthesis does not violate the second law of thermodynamics. Which of the following statements best helps justify the researcher's claim?

Photosynthetic organisms use the organic molecules produced during photosynthesis for growth and repair.

Researchers investigated the influence of environmental pH on the activity of peroxidase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas. In an experiment, the researchers added a hydrogen peroxide solution containing guaiacol to several identical test tubes and adjusted the solution in each test tube to a different pH. The researchers included the guaiacol because it caused the solutions to change color as the reactions proceeded, which the researchers relied on for measuring reaction rates. Finally, the researchers added the same amount of peroxidase to each test tube and measured the rate of each reaction at 23°C. The results of the experiment are represented in Figure 1. Which of the following actions will provide a negative control for the investigation?

Repeating the experiment using heat-denatured peroxidase

A researcher claims that genetic variation provides organisms with the ability to survive and reproduce in different environments. To support the claim, the researcher makes the following observation: bacteria that contain plasmids (small DNA molecules) are resistant to a wider range of antibiotics than are bacteria that contain no plasmids. Which of the following statements best establishes a connection between the observation and the researcher's claim?

Some plasmids contain antibiotic resistance genes.

A student designs an experiment to investigate the influence of temperature on enzyme function. The student's plan is presented in Table 1. Which test tubes are controls in the experiment?

Test tubes 1, 3, 5, and 7

Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a protein that catalyzes the conversion of acetylcholine to acetate and choline. When the concentration of AChE in an aqueous solution is held constant, the rate of the reaction catalyzed by AChE increases with increasing concentrations of substrate. At low concentrations of acetylcholine, a small increase in the substrate concentration results in a large increase in the reaction rate. At high concentrations of acetylcholine, however, a large increase in the substrate concentration results in only a small increase in the reaction rate. Which of the following statements correctly explains the observed effect of the acetylcholine concentration on the rate of the enzyme-catalyzed reaction?

The active site of AChEAChE is specific for acetylcholine, and only one substrate molecule can occupy the active site at a time.

Phycobiliproteins are a complex of accessory pigments and proteins found in cyanobacteria but not in green algae. A researcher claims that the phycobiliprotein pigments in cyanobacteria allow the cyanobacteria to survive in certain aquatic niches better than green algae can. Which of the following statements best justifies the researcher's claim?

The additional pigments absorb light at wavelengths that green algae cannot absorb; this may allow cyanobacteria to capture more light energy for photosynthesis than green algae can in certain areas.

In an experiment, a researcher prepares a reaction mixture by dissolving a substance in a buffered solution. The substance is the substrate of a certain enzyme. The researcher adds a small amount of the enzyme to the reaction mixture and measures the amount of product that is formed over time. The data are represented in Figure 1. Which of the following best predicts the immediate result of adding more substrate to the reaction mixture at the point indicated by the arrow in Figure 1?

The amount of product will increase until the reaction reaches its equilibrium point or until the substrate is used up by the reaction.

Researchers investigated the influence of environmental pH on the activity of peroxidase, an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas. In an experiment, the researchers added a hydrogen peroxide solution containing guaiacol to several identical test tubes and adjusted the solution in each test tube to a different pH. The researchers included the guaiacol because it caused the solutions to change color as the reactions proceeded, which the researchers relied on for measuring reaction rates. Finally, the researchers added the same amount of peroxidase to each test tube and measured the rate of each reaction at 23°C. The results of the experiment are represented in Figure 1. One of the researchers proposes using oxygen gas production to measure reaction rates. Which of the following statements best justifies the use of the proposed modification as a way of creating an appropriate control for the investigation?

The experiment can be repeated without hydrogen peroxide, which will help eliminate an uncontrolled variable.

Brown fat is a type of fat tissue found in hibernating mammals. Inside the mitochondria of these fat tissue cells, these mammals have an uncoupling protein embedded in the inner mitochondrial membrane. This uncoupling protein allows hydrogen ions to leak from the intermembrane space back into the mitochondrial matrix. Figure 1 shows details of the processes in the inner mitochondrial membrane. Which of the following statements provides reasoning that supports the claim that brown fatty tissue keeps an animal warm?

The uncoupling protein in this tissue reduces the proton gradient across the membrane and thus produces heat to warm the animal without ATPATP production.

A researcher claims that budding yeast are able to survive in different environments because they produce enzymes that allow them to use different molecules as sources of matter and energy. Which of the following statements best helps justify the researcher's claim by providing a relevant example?

Yeast cells produce invertase, which is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of the disaccharide sucrose into glucose and fructose.

European flycatchers feed caterpillars to their hatchlings. Graph 1 shows the average dates of hatching and fledging (leaving the nest), and the biomass of the caterpillars between early May (when flycatcher young hatch) and June (when fledging of young occurs). Based on the data, scientists claim that the reproductive behavior of European flycatchers is influenced by the availability of energy sources. Which of the following statements best justifies this claim?

Young European flycatchers hatch from eggs when caterpillar biomass is available for the young birds to consume and convert into energy for growth.

Catalase is an enzyme found in yeast cells that facilitates the chemical breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen gas. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of pH on catalase function. Five buffer solutions of varying pH (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10) were prepared and added to separate test tubes. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was added to each test tube. Yeast was added, and the reactions were timed. After 1 minute the amount of oxygen gas released was determined by measuring the foam layer produced in each test tube. Figure 1 illustrates the experimental setup. A set of five additional test tubes were prepared and used as controls. Which of the following best describes the contents expected to be contained in one of the five control test tubes?

pHpH 4 buffer solution and hydrogen peroxide only