Protein Synthesis (DP IB Biology: HL)

Exam Questions

4 hours61 questions
1
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1 mark

Which of the following steps is not involved in the process of transcription?

  • The DNA double helix separates into single strands

  • DNA polymerase binds to one of the single strands and moves along the gene

  • Free RNA nucleotides are joined together by covalent bonds

  • The RNA molecule detaches from the DNA template strand at the end of the gene

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2
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The following diagram shows the process of translation.

2-6--e-2

Which row of the following table correctly identifies the labelled components?

 

P

Q

R

S

A

anticodon

codon

ribosome

mRNA

B

codon

anticodon

ribosome

tRNA

C

anticodon

codon

ribosome

tRNA

D

codon

anticodon

mRNA

ribosome

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    3
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    In a genetic engineering experiment, a piece of double-stranded DNA containing 18 000 nucleotides coding for a specific polypeptide is transcribed and translated.

    What is the total number of amino acids in this polypeptide?

    • 3 000

    • 6 000

    • 9 000

    • 18 000

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    4
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    A section of a DNA molecule contains the following base sequences:

    ATA  CCT  GCA

    Which of the following would represent the base sequences of the codons on the mRNA molecule after transcription?

    • ATA  CCT  GCA

    • AUA  CCU  GCA

    • TAT  GGA CGT

    • UAU  GGA  CGU

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    51 mark

    Which of the statements about non-coding DNA is correct?

    • Non coding sequences code for polypeptides and functional RNA such as tRNA.

    • Non coding sequences do not code for polypeptides but can code for functional RNA such as tRNA.

    • Non-coding DNA is only found in between genes.

    • Telomeres are a type of non-coding DNA that regulate gene expression.

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    6
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    Which of the following provides the most accurate definition of a promoter?

    • DNA sequences that code for the production of polypeptides

    • DNA sequences that produce RNA molecules

    • DNA sequences that act as a binding site for RNA polymerase during transcription

    • DNA sequences that codes for the production of enzymes

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    7
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    Which of the following correctly compares the modification of RNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

     

    Prokaryotes

    Eukaryotes

    A

    mRNA can be spliced to remove non-coding sequences

    A methylated cap can be added to the 5' end of the mRNA molecule

    B

    A poly-A tail is added to the 3' end of the mRNA molecule

    mRNA does not require modification after transcription

    C

    mRNA does not require modification after transcription

    mRNA can be spliced to remove non-coding sequences

    D

    mRNA can be spliced to remove non-coding sequences

    A poly-A tail is added to the 3' end of the mRNA molecule

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      8
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      Which of the following will lead to the termination of translation?

      • Once the ribosome disassembles into the large and small subunit

      • When the ribosome encounters a stop codon

      • Releasing the free polypeptide from the last tRNA molecule

      • When the ribosome detaches from the mRNA molecule

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      9
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      The diagram below shows the structure of a tRNA molecule.

      7-3_q2

      Which of the following correctly identifies the different parts of the tRNA molecule?

       

      1

      2

      3

      4

      A

      Amino acid binding site

      Hydrogen bonds

      Anticodon

      Sugar-phosphate backbone

      B

      Amino acids

      Hydrogen bonds

      Anticodon

      Covalent bonds

      C

      Amino acid binding site

      Covalent bonds

      Anticodon

      Sugar-phosphate backbone

      D

      Amino acids

      Hydrogen bonds

      Codon

      Covalent bonds

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        10
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        Which of the following would apply to the polysomes of prokaryotes?

        • Polysomes, containing 80S ribosomes, will appear on the growing mRNA strand along the DNA molecule

        • Polysomes, containing 70S ribosomes, will appear on the growing mRNA strand in the absence of DNA

        • Polysomes, containing 80S ribosomes, will appear on the growing mRNA strand in the absence of DNA

        • Polysomes, containing 70S ribosomes, will appear on the growing mRNA strand along the DNA molecule

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        11 mark

        Which row of the table best describes the events of polypeptide synthesis?

         

        Type of reaction

        ATP requirement

        Location in cell

        A

        anabolic

        condensation

        ATP not required

        mitochondria

        B

        anabolic

        hydrolysis

        ATP not required

        cytoplasm

        C

        anabolic

        condensation

        ATP required

        cytoplasm

        D

        catabolic

        condensation

        ATP required

        mitochondria

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          21 mark

          A piece of DNA was analysed to find the number of nucleotide bases in each of the polynucleotide strands.  Some of the results are shown below.

           

          Number of nucleotide bases

           

          A

          T

          G

          C

          Strand 1

           

          30

          22

           

          Strand 2

           

          30

          38

           

          What is the maximum number of amino acids that could be coded for by this DNA?

          • 30

          • 35

          • 40

          • 50

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          31 mark

          What is the correct sequence for the processes involved in the formation of a protein?

          • transcription → peptide bonding → translation → ionic bonding    

          • transcription → translation → peptide bonding → hydrogen bonding    

          • transcription → peptide bonding → translation → hydrogen bonding

          • translation → peptide bonding → transcription → ionic bonding    

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          41 mark

          Which of the following statements about transcription are true? 

          1. DNA remains in the nucleus because it is too large to fit through the pores in the nuclear envelope.

          2. Transcription makes a copy of the sense strand of DNA.

          3. Transcription converts a sequence of nucleotides into a sequence of amino acids.

          4. RNA polymerase forms covalent bonds between the RNA nucleotides.

          • II only

          • I and IV

          • I, II and III

          • I, II and IV

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          51 mark

          What terminates the formation of a polypeptide chain during protein synthesis in cells?

          • When the ribosome reaches the end of the mRNA molecule.

          • When there are no more tRNA molecules. 

          • When the ribosome reaches a stop codon on the mRNA. 

          • RNA polymerase detaches the polypeptide chain from the ribosome.  

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          61 mark

          Which row of the table contains three correct statements about DNA replication, transcription and translation?

           

          DNA replication

          Transcription

          Translation

          A

          produces mRNA

          occurs in the cytoplasm

          tRNA involved

          B

          DNA polymerase involved

          RNA polymerase involved

          produces mRNA

          C

          is semi-conservative

          produces mRNA

          occurs at a ribosome

          D

          occurs in the nucleus

          occurs in the nucleus

          RNA polymerase involved

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            71 mark

            The majority of the eukaryotic genome contains non-coding regions of DNA.

             Which of the following are functions of non-coding DNA?

            I.

            Code for functional RNA molecules

            II.

            Regulate gene expression

            III.

            Allow alternative proteins to be expressed from a gene

            IV.

            Act as telomeres

            • I and II

            • II and III

            • I, II and III

            • I, II, III and IV

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            81 mark

            Which of the following statements describes the promoter?

            I.

            The first part of a gene to be transcribed.

            II.

            Acts as a binding site for RNA polymerase.

            III.

            A non-coding sequence located near the gene.

            IV.

             Only found in eukaryotes.

            • I and II

            • I and III

            • II and III

            • All the above

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            91 mark

            Which of the following statements about transcription are correct?

            I.

            RNA polymerase synthesises mRNA in a 5’ to 3’ direction.

            II.

            RNA polymerase binds near the promoter.

            III.

            RNA polymerase uses the sense strand of DNA as a template.

            IV.

            RNA polymerase synthesises mRNA in a 3’ to 5’ direction.

            • I only

            • I and II

            • I, II and III

            • II, III and IV

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            101 mark

            It is estimated that the human genome contains between 20 000 and 25 000 genes. However, the proteome is estimated to contain up to 400 000 proteins. This large difference in numbers is due to alternative splicing.

            Which of the following best describes alternative splicing in eukaryotes?

            • Different combinations of introns can be incorporated into the mature mRNA. 

            • Some exons are duplicated. 

            • Different combinations of exons can be incorporated into the mature mRNA. 

            • Different genes can be fused together.

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            111 mark

            Which of the following accurately describes the sequence of steps that happen following production of a pre-mRNA in eukaryotes?

            A

            Addition of a 5’ methylated cap

            Removal of a 3’ poly-A tail

            Removal of non-coding sequences

            Transport to the cytoplasm

            B

            Binding of RNA polymerase

            Addition of a 5’ methylated cap

            Removal of non-coding sequences

            Transport to the cytoplasm

            C

            Addition of a 5’ methylated cap

            Addition of a 3’ poly-A tail

            Transport to the cytoplasm

            Binding to ribosome

            D

            Addition of a 5’ methylated cap

            Addition of a 3’ poly-A tail

            Removal of non-coding sequences

            Transport to the cytoplasm

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              121 mark

              What is the correct sequence of events during the initiation stage of translation in eukaryotes?

              1. Small subunit of the ribosome binds to the 5’ end of mRNA

              2. Large ribosomal subunit binds to form the ribosome complex

              3. The ribosomal subunit moves along the mRNA until it locates a start codon

              4. An initiator tRNA binds

              5. Elongation of the polypeptide chain can begin                                                                                                                                  

                 

                first

                last

                A

                I

                II

                III

                V

                IV

                B

                II

                I

                IV

                III

                V

                C

                I

                II

                III

                IV

                V

                D

                I

                IV

                III

                II

                V

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                131 mark

                Which of the following is not a function of tRNA?

                • Helps translate anticodons into amino acids

                • Peptide bond formation linking amino acid to a polypeptide chain

                • Carrying a specific amino acid to the ribosome

                • Recognising codons on mRNA

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                141 mark

                During the elongation stage of translation the ribosome ‘translocates’ along the mRNA moving in a 5’ → 3’ direction.

                What is the immediate effect of this directional movement?

                • The tRNA occupying the P site moves to the A site

                • The E site becomes free

                • The tRNA occupying the A site moves to the P site

                • The polypeptide chain is released from the ribosome

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                151 mark

                In eukaryotic cells, ribosomes can be either free or bound.

                Which of the following proteins would most likely be synthesised by bound ribosomes?

                • Mitochondrial outer membrane protein

                • Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase involved in glycolysis

                • Lysosomal acid lipase

                • Histone protein

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                161 mark

                The diagram below represents an electron micrograph of eukaryotic polysomes.

                q10_7-3_translation_ib_biology_hl_mcq

                What is the main advantage that polysomes give to a eukaryotic cell?

                • Translation can be initiated before transcription is complete

                • Allows very long mRNA molecules to be translated

                • They increase the overall rate of translation

                • Allows structurally different polypeptides to be produced from the same mRNA

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                1
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                The following events occur in the process of DNA replication.

                1. Complementary strands are separated

                2. Free DNA nucleotides pair with complementary nucleotides on each template strand

                3. Hydrogen bonds are formed between complementary bases

                4. Hydrogen bonds are broken between complementary bases

                5. Covalent bonds form between the pentose sugar and the phosphate group of adjacent nucleotides

                Which of the following is the correct order of the events?

                • 1 → 3 → 4 → 2 → 5

                • 3 → 1 → 2 → 4 → 5

                • 2 → 1 → 3 → 4 → 5

                • 4 → 1 → 2 → 3 → 5

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                2
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                A polypeptide has the following amino acid sequence:

                alanine - alanine - valine - lysine - valine - serine

                The table below gives the base sequences for the DNA triplets of each amino acid.

                Amino acid

                DNA triplet

                serine

                TCG

                valine

                GTA

                lysine

                AAA

                alanine

                GCT

                stop

                TAA

                A mutation in the DNA coding for this polypeptide chain caused the tenth nucleotide to change from an A to a T.

                Which of the following would represent the amino acid sequence in the polypeptide after the mutation occurred?

                • alanine - alanine - valine - lysine - valine - serine

                • alanine - alanine - valine - stop - valine - serine

                • alanine - alanine - valine

                • alanine - alanine - valine - serine - valine - serine

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                3
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                Which of the following processes involve both DNA and RNA?

                I. Replication

                II. Transcription

                III. Translation

                IV. Protein synthesis

                • I and II

                • I, II and IV

                • III only

                • II and IV

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                4
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                A short section of mRNA that was produced after transcription occurred has the following base sequence:

                AAACUUCUCAUAGAACGG

                The following table shows the base sequence for codons and the corresponding amino acids that they code for.

                mrna-codons-and-amino-acids-table

                Which of the following would represent the correct amino acid sequence coded for by this section of mRNA?

                • Lys - Leu - Pro - Asp - Gly - Ala

                • Lys - Phe - Pro - Lys - Gly - Ala

                • Lys - Leu - Leu - Asp - Glu - Arg

                • Lys - Leu - Leu - Ile - Glu - Arg

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                5
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                A polypeptide has the following amino acid sequence:

                histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine - valine

                The table below gives the tRNA anticodons for each amino acid.

                Amino acid

                tRNA anticodons

                histidine

                CAU

                valine

                GUA

                lysine

                AAA

                alanine

                GCU

                glutamine

                CAG

                A mutation causes the 18th base in the DNA sequence to be deleted. 

                Which of the following would represent the amino acid sequence after this deletion?

                • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine

                • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine 

                • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - glutamine

                • histidine - glutamine - lysine - alanine - valine - histidine - valine

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                6
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                The reaction of bacteria to DNA damage is called the SOS response. During this response, the cell cycle stops and a DNA damage repair system is induced. Two main proteins are involved, namely LexA and RecA. In normal cells, the LexA protein is bound to a section of prokaryotic DNA called the SOS box, which codes for various genes involved with DNA repair. In cells with DNA damage, RecA will bind to and cleave the LexA protein.

                Which of the following correctly identifies each of the components of the SOS response?

                 

                LexA

                RecA

                SOS box

                A

                Repressor protein

                Activator protein

                Transcription factor

                B

                Activator protein

                Repressor protein

                Promoter

                C

                Repressor protein

                Activator protein

                Promoter

                D

                Activator protein

                Repressor protein

                Silencer sequence

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                  7
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                  The muscle protein titin is an important component of cardiac muscle tissue. Several forms of titin exist, even though it is coded for by the same gene. During the development of the foetal heart, titin exists in the form of long, springy protein strands, while in the adult heart titin is much shorter.

                  Which of the following provides the most plausible explanation for the occurrence of the different forms of titin?

                  • Different post-transcriptional changes are made to the pre-mRNA of the titin gene, resulting in different mature mRNA molecules that can be translated into different polypeptides.

                  • Different exons of the gene coding for titin are spliced to form different mature mRNA molecules that can be translated into different polypeptides.

                  • Different introns of the gene coding for titin are joined together to form different mature mRNA molecules that can be translated into different polypeptides.

                  • Different poly-A tails are added to the 3' end of pre-mRNA molecules, resulting in different mature mRNA molecules that can be translated into different polypeptides.

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                  8
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                  Which of the following provides a reason why prokaryotic mRNA does not require post-transcriptional modification?

                  1. Prokaryotic DNA is a circular, double-stranded molecule, therefore mRNA molecules are less complex than in eukaryotes.

                  2. A lack of a nuclear membrane means that transcription and translation can be coupled together.

                  3. Prokaryotic DNA lacks introns, which means that no splicing needs to occur.

                  4. Prokaryotes have smaller, 70S ribosomes.

                  5. RNA polymerase in prokaryotes will transcribe a single strand of mRNA.

                  • I and V only.

                  • II, III and IV.

                  • II and III only.

                  • I, II and V.

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                  9
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                  Which of the following enables tRNA activating enzymes to link an amino acid to a tRNA molecule?

                  • The tertiary structure of the enzyme active site creates a complementary shape to both tRNA molecule and amino acid which allows them to bind together

                  • The tertiary structure of the enzyme active site creates a shape that is similar to both tRNA molecule and amino acid to allow the them to bind together

                  • The quaternary structure of the enzyme active site creates a shape that is complementary to the tRNA molecule in order for the amino acid to bind to the attachment site of tRNA

                  • The tertiary structure of the specific tRNA molecule creates a shape that is complementary to the active site of the enzyme and also allows the amino acid to bind to its attachment site

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                  10
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                  Which of the following applies to both free and bound ribosomes?

                  1. They produce polypeptides that are destined to be used for processes occurring in the cytosol

                  2. Translation is interrupted and then re-initiated once movement of the ribosome is complete

                  3. They are found in all eukaryotic cells and may be either 70S or 80S

                  4. They facilitate the binding of mRNA and tRNA and catalyse the formation of peptide bonds

                  5. They have four binding sites to allow the molecules involved with translation to attach to its subunits

                  • III. and IV. only

                  • IV. and V. only

                  • I., III. and IV.

                  • II., IV. and V.

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                  11
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                  Leucine is an essential amino acid (EAA) that plays an important role in initiating the process of translation. Scientists investigated the effect of leucine on the process of protein synthesis and protein breakdown in muscles. Participants of the study were divided into three equal groups. Each group were given the same diet that was supplemented with different amounts of leucine (High, low and no added leucine) and the rate of protein synthesis and protein breakdown were monitored over time.

                  The diagram below shows the results of this study.

                  7-3_q4h

                  Which of the following provides the most plausible conclusion that can be drawn from the data?

                  • Leucine led to a significant increase in protein synthesis while it also increased the rate of protein breakdown in the muscles

                  • Low levels of leucine cause a significant increase in protein synthesis with no significant impact on the breakdown of protein in the muscles

                  • Supplementing the diet with high levels of leucine will lead to protein being broken down at a higher rate than it is being synthesised in the muscles

                  • A diet with no added leucine will have a negative impact on protein synthesis and may result in developing a protein deficiency

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                  12
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                  The following steps describes the events taking place during the elongation of a polypeptide in no particular order.

                  1. Free tRNA molecules bind to their corresponding amino acids due to their specific anticodon and transport it to the ribosome 

                  2. A tRNA with a complementary anticodon binds to the "A" site bringing its specific amino acid along

                  3. The initiator tRNA moves from the "P" to the "E" site on the ribosome where it initiates translation

                  4. The amino acid carried by the tRNA at the "P" site is linked to the polypeptide chain by a peptide bond

                  5. tRNA carrying the peptide chain moves from the "A" site to the "P" site as the ribosome moves in the 5' → 3' direction along the mRNA molecule

                  Which of these steps contain incorrect information?

                  • I., III. and V.

                  • II., III. and V.

                  • I., III. and IV.

                  • I., III., IV. and V.

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