Biomolecules: Composition, Structure, Function & Stability
Including Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
This document provides an overview of the major biomolecules-carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
nucleic acids, and vitamins-covering their composition, structural levels, key functions, and factors
that influence the stability of proteins and nucleic acids. It concludes with a set of MCQs and an
answer key to test understanding of the material.
1. Carbohydrates
- Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen (general formula Cn(H2O)n)
- Structure: Monosaccharides (glucose), disaccharides (sucrose), polysaccharides (starch, cellulose)
- Function: Immediate energy source, structural support (cellulose), cell recognition (glycoproteins)
2. Lipids
- Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen (lower O ratio than carbohydrates)
- Structure: Simple lipids (triglycerides), compound lipids (phospholipids), derived lipids (steroids)
- Function: Long-term energy storage, membrane structure, hormones and signaling
3. Proteins
- Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Sulfur
- Structure: Primary (sequence), secondary (alpha-helix, beta-sheet), tertiary (3D fold), quaternary
(multisubunit)
- Function: Enzymes, transport, structural fibers, immune defense, hormones
4. Nucleic Acids
- Composition: Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Phosphorus
- Structure: DNA (double helix), RNA (single strand)
- Function: Genetic information storage (DNA), protein synthesis and regulation (RNA)
5. Vitamins
- Composition: Diverse organic molecules (often C, H, O with N/S)
- Classification: Water-soluble (B-complex, C) and fat-soluble (A, D, E, K)
- Function: Coenzymes/cofactors, antioxidants, hormone-like roles (vitamin D)
6. Stability of Proteins and Nucleic Acids
Protein Stability:
* Stabilizing forces: hydrogen bonds, ionic interactions, hydrophobic packing, disulfide bridges,
chaperones
* Destabilizing factors: high temperature, extreme pH, denaturants, reducing agents
Nucleic Acid Stability:
* DNA is inherently more stable than RNA because it lacks the 2'-OH and has a double-stranded
structure
* Influenced by temperature, pH, ionic strength, and nuclease activity
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. Which of the following is a disaccharide?
A) Glucose
B) Maltose
C) Glycogen
D) Cellulose
2. In phospholipids, the hydrophilic head group contains:
A) Fatty acid chains
B) Glycerol only
C) Phosphate group
D) Steroid nucleus
3. The primary structure of a protein refers to:
A) alpha-helix arrangement
B) Sequence of amino acids
C) 3D folding
D) Number of polypeptides
4. Which nitrogenous base is found in RNA but not DNA?
A) Adenine
B) Uracil
C) Guanine
D) Thymine
5. Vitamin C is also known as:
A) Retinol
B) Calciferol
C) Tocopherol
D) Ascorbic acid
6. The bond linking glucose units in starch is:
A) beta-1,4-glycosidic
B) alpha-1,4-glycosidic
C) Peptide
D) Phosphodiester
7. Cholesterol is classified as a:
A) Simple lipid
B) Derived lipid
C) Compound lipid
D) Glycolipid
8. Which factor least affects protein stability?
A) Ionic strength
B) pH
C) Light intensity
D) Temperature
9. DNA is more stable than RNA mainly because it:
A) Contains thymine
B) Is double-stranded
C) Lacks a 2'-OH group
D) Has phosphodiester bonds
10. The coenzyme form of vitamin B1 is:
A) FMN
B) TPP
C) NAD+
D) FAD
11. Chitin is a polymer of:
A) Glucose
B) N-acetylglucosamine
C) Galactose
D) Ribose
12. A single turn of the B-DNA helix contains approximately:
A) 8 base pairs
B) 10.5 base pairs
C) 12 base pairs
D) 15 base pairs
13. The hydrophobic effect in protein folding is driven by:
A) Electrostatic forces
B) Exclusion of water from nonpolar residues
C) Hydrogen bonding
D) Disulfide bridge formation
14. Which vitamin functions hormonally to regulate calcium metabolism?
A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin D
C) Vitamin K
D) Vitamin E
15. A fatty acid with no double bonds is:
A) Monounsaturated
B) Polyunsaturated
C) Saturated
D) Cis-unsaturated
Answer Key
1. B
2. C
3. B
4. B
5. D
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. C
10. B
11. B
12. B
13. B
14. B
15. C
