Question 4 NYJC Prelim P2/Q1/2009

The diagram shows the tertiary structure of a molecule of the enzyme RNase.

Fig. 4.1
(a) Name the chemical group found in position A.
Amino group (-NH2); amine group
[1]
(b) Explain what is meant by the tertiary structure of a protein.
Refers to overall specific / unique / precise three-dimensional structure / conformation as a
result of folding of secondary structures i.e. helices and pleated sheets;
Held together by hydrogen bonds, ionic bonds, disulfide bonds and/or hydrophobic
interactions between R-groups / side chains;
[2]

Question 4: AQA/Jan05/ BYB7/Q3

Papain is an enzyme used to break down protein in industrial processes. In many of these
processes papain is immobilized.
a) Describe one way in which an enzyme can be immobilized.

[1]
b) The graph shows the effect of temperature on the activity of papain in solution and
immobilized papain.

i.

Describe the differences between the activity of papain in solution and

immobilized papain.

[2]
ii.

Explain the effect of temperature on the activity of papain in solution.

[3]
iii.

Using information from the graph, suggest one advantage of using papain in
industrial processes rather than using proteases obtained from a mammalian
digestive system.

[1]
[Total: 7]

HCI Prelim 2011 / P2 / Q1

Metabolic pathways can be controlled by end-product inhibition of enzyme-catalysed reactions.
KAS III is the initial enzyme of fatty acid production in bacteria. The substrate for this reaction is
malonyl-ACP.
Three different mutant strains of bacteria were generated, each with a different mutated KAS III
gene: M1, M2 and M3. The enzyme activity of the wild-type and the three mutant strains was
tested with and without the addition of a KAS III inhibitor, dodecanoyl-ACP. Dodecanoyl-ACP is
structurally similar to malonyl-ACP. Fig. 5.3 shows the mean activity of KAS III in the wild-type,
M1, M2 and M3 strains.
Key:

without inhibitor

with inhibitor

7
6
5

KAS III activity / mol min-1 mg-1

4
3
2
1
0
Wild-type

M1

M2

M3

Bacterial strain
Fig. 5.3

(b) With reference to Fig. 5.3, explain why the activity of KAS III in the wild-type strain
changes when dodecanoyl-ACP is added.
Dodecanoyl-ACP exhibits competitive inhibition by binding to the active site
and preventing enzyme-substrate complex formation;
hence lowering the rate of enzymatic reaction as some enzymes become inhibited from
5.2 mol min-1 mg-1 to 1.4 mol min-1 mg-1;

[2]
(c) Suggest an explanation for the effect of mutation on KAS III activity.
The 3D conformation of active site is altered in mutated KAS III such that it is no longer
complementary to the substrate (in terms of size, shape, charge, orientation);
preventing binding to active site to form enzyme-substrate complex resulting in a
reduction in KAS III activity;
The active site is also no longer complementary to the 3D conformation of
dodedecanoyl-ACP;
Thus it cannot bind to the active site of mutated KAS, mutated KAS III is not inhibited by
dodedecanoyl-ACP;
[2]

Question 3: YJC Prelim 07

The sequence of a portion of a prokaryotic gene is shown below.

(a) If transcription begins at position 1 and proceeds to the right, what would be the
sequence and orientation of the resulting mRNA?

[1]

(b) List, in order, the first four amino acids that are coded by the mRNA in (a). You may use
the information on the circular chart above.

[2]

(c) Define silent mutation and describe an example of a silent mutation that may occur in
the given prokaryotic gene.

[3]
(d) Antibiotics have been very useful in elucidating the steps of protein synthesis. A
recently discovered antibiotic by the name of smilimycin blocks a particular step in
protein synthesis such that an mRNA with the sequence, AUG-UCC-UAC-UAC-GGA, is
translated to just a simple amino acid, Met, instead of the normal polypeptide, Met-SerTyr-Tyr-Gly. Which step in protein synthesis does smilimycin affect and why?

[2]
[Total: 8]

Fig. 5 shows movements that take place within a cell during mitosis. The three curves show
changes in distance between:
A the centromere and the poles of the spindle.
B the centromeres of sister chromatids.
C the poles of the spindle.
On the time scale, 0 marks the time when chromosomes line up the equator.

Fig. 5
(a) With reference to Fig. 5,
(i) identify the two main stages of mitosis when these movements occur.

[2]
(ii) describe what happens to the chromatids after 15 minutes.

[2]

(iii) account for the changes in curve C.

[2]
(b) Outline the role of centromeres.

[2]
(c) Suggest the significance of mitosis in humans.

[2]
[Total: 10]