Student ID: _________________________________ Signature: _______________________

Mulungushi University
School of Medicine and Health Sciences
MBChB II
Biochemistry MBI 261 Test I

Date: 14th November 2018 Time: 2 hours

Section A:
This section has 20 questions. Total 40 Marks
Answer all questions. There is only one best answer per question, circle the correct answer.

Section B:
This section has 5 questions. each carry 20 marks.
Answer any 3 questions.
Total 60 Marks

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Student ID: _________________________________ Signature: _______________________

Section A
1. The main sites for glycogenolysis are:
a. Liver and pancreas
b. Liver and intestines
c. Liver and skeletal muscle
d. Liver and kidneys
e. Kidneys and Muscle
2. Which statement about glycogenesis is INCORRECT
a. Glycogenesis is activated during rest periods following the Cori cycle, in the liver
b. Insulin is secreted in response to high glucose levels and increases glycogenesis
c. Glycogenesis responds to hormonal control
d. Glucagon counteracts the actions of insulin to decrease glycogenesis
e. The enzyme glycogen phosphorylase, when activated increases the rate of glycogenesis
3. Which statement about glycogenolysis is CORRECT
a. glycogenolysis is not the reverse of glycogenesis, but is a separate pathway
b. glycogenolysis is enhanced by insulin
c. Glycogen phosphorylase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in glycogenesis
d. The activity of the Branching enzyme is increased
e. Glycogenolysis only takes place in the fed state
4. The following statements about glycogen metabolism and its regulation are incorrect EXCEPT
a. glycogen phosphorylase and glycogen synthase are regulated in opposite directions by
allosteric and direct mechanisms
b. Phosphorylation of glycogen phosphorylase increases its activity; phosphorylation of
glycogen synthase reduces its activity.
c. Ca2+ and AMP are inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase in skeletal muscle
d. Increased levels of ATP activate glycogen phosphorylase in skeletal muscle
e. Glycogen is an example of a phosphagen
5. The following statements about the role of glycogen in the liver and muscle are correct
EXCEPT
a. In the liver, the role of glycogen is to provide free glucose for export to maintain the
blood concentration of glucose
b. in muscle, the role of glycogen is to provide a source of glucose-6-phosphate for
glycolysis in response to the need for ATP for muscle contraction
c. In the liver, the role of glycogen is to provide energy for the liver to function through
glycolysis
d. Glucose is stored as glycogen
6. The following statements about the Pentose Phosphate pathway are correct EXCEPT
a. Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is also known as the hexose monophosphate shunt or
the Phospogluconate pathway
b. Generates NADPH and 3-, 4-, 5-, 6- and 7-carbon sugars
c. The oxidative phase generates Pentoses while the non-oxidative phase generates NADPH
d. The oxidative phase generates NADPH while the non-oxidative phase generates Pentoses
e. The oxidative phase is irreversible while the non-oxidative phase is reversible
7. The following about the Uronic acid pathway are correct EXCEPT
a. Is an alternative pathway for the oxidation of Glucose
b. Occurs in the cytoplasm

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c. Major function is Production of UDP-glucoronic acid important for conjugation of

bilirubin, steroids, various drugs and synthesis of glycosamino glycans (GAG)
d. Is important for detoxification of foreign chemicals
e. Produces less ATP than glycolysis
8. Which one of the following statements about the free energy change (ΔG) in a biochemical
reaction is CORRECT?
a. If ΔG is negative, the reaction proceeds spontaneously with a loss of free energy.
b. In an exergonic reaction, ΔG is positive.
c. The standard free energy change when reactants are present in concentrations of 1.0
mol/L and the pH is 7.0 is represented as ΔG.
d. In an endergonic reaction there is a loss of free energy.
e. If a reaction is essentially irreversible, it has a high positive ΔG.
9. If the ΔG of a reaction is zero:
a. The reaction goes virtually to completion and is essentially irreversible.
b. The reaction is endergonic.
c. The reaction is exergonic.
d. The reaction proceeds only if free energy can be gained.
e. The system is at equilibrium and no net change occurs.
10. When the liver is constantly loaded with fructose, the following are likely to happen
EXCEPT
a. Hypertriacylglycerolemia
b. Hypercholesterolemia
c. Galactosemia
d. Hyperuricemia
e. Fructose & Sorbitol in the Lens Are Associated with Diabetic Cataract
11. The following statements about carbohydrate metabolism are correct EXCEPT
a. gluconeogenesis occurs during periods of high-carbohydrate diets, and is highly
exergonic
b. gluconeogenesis involves some glycolysis and the citric acid cycle intermediates
c. glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis are the two main mechanisms the body uses to keep
blood glucose levels within thin limits.
d. gluconeogenesis takes place mainly in the liver (50-60%)
12. The following statements are relating to the fate of pyruvate from glycolysis under aerobic &
anaerobic conditions. All are correct EXCEPT
a. Under aerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted to acetyl-CoA
b. Under anaerobic conditions, pyruvate is converted to lactic acid
c. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex enzyme is responsible for the conversion of
pyruvate to acetyl-CoA
d. Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme is responsible for the conversion of pyruvate to lactate
e. The conversion of Pyruvate to glucose in the Liver via gluconeogenesis yields 6 ATPs
13. Alcoholism can lead to the following except
a. pyruvic acidosis
b. lactic acidosis
c. inhibition of thiamin absorption
d. inhibition of hexokinase activity
14. Which one of following statements about glycogen metabolism is correct?

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a. Glycogen is synthesized in the liver in the fed state, then exported to other tissues in low-
density lipoproteins.
b. Glycogen reserves in liver and muscle will meet energy requirements for several days in
prolonged fasting.
c. Liver synthesizes more glycogen when the hepatic portal blood concentration of glucose
is high because of the activity of glucokinase in the liver.
d. Muscle synthesizes glycogen in the fed state because glycogen phosphorylase is activated
in response to insulin.
e. The plasma concentration of glycogen increases in the fed state.
15. In glycolysis, the conversion of 1 mol of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate to 2 mol of pyruvate
results in the formation of:
a. 1 mol NAD+ and 2 mol of ATP
b. 1 mol NADH and 1 mol of ATP
c. 2 mol NAD+ and 4 mol of ATP
d. 2 mol NADH and 2 mol of ATP
e. 2 mol NADH and 4 mol of ATP
16. which Statement about endergonic reactions is false
a. Unfavorable or nonspontaneous reaction.
b. Requires energy (thus absorb energy from the surroundings)
c. The free energy of the system increases.
d. ∆Go is positive >0;
e. ∆S increases.
17. which Statement about exergonic reactions is false
a. Spontaneous or a favorable reaction.
b. Release energy to the surroundings.
c. The free energy of the system decreases.
d. ∆Go is negative <0;
e. ∆S decreases.
18. About high group transfer potential molecules, which compound is of low-energy type
a. ATP
b. Uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPGlc)
c. S-adenosylmethionine (active methionine),
d. AMP
19. Which one of the following statements about cytochromes is INCORRECT?
a. They are hemoproteins that take part in oxidation–reduction reactions.
b. They contain iron which oscillates between Fe3+ and Fe2+ during the reactions they
participate in.
c. They act as electron carriers in the respiratory chain in mitochondria.
d. They have an important role in the hydroxylation of steroids in the endoplasmic
reticulum.
e. They are all dehydrogenase enzymes.
20. Which one of the following statements about cytochromes P450 is INCORRECT?
a. They are able to accept electrons from either NADH or NADPH.
b. They are found only in the endoplasmic reticulum.
c. They are monooxygenase enzymes.
d. They play a major role in drug detoxification in the liver.
e. In some reactions they work in conjunction with cytochrome b5.

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Section B: Answer any 3 (three) questions

1.
a. State the first and second laws of thermodynamics and write an equation that expresses the
free energy between the two laws naming all the symbols in the equation? 10 marks
b. List at least 5 Differences between glycolysis and gluconeogenesis 10 marks
2.
a. List at least 5 Differences between glycolysis and pentose phosphate pathway 10 marks
b. List the three enzymes that regulate glycolysis and the reactions they catalyze 10 marks
3.
a. In comparing gluconeogenesis and glycolysis, list the four enzymes unique to
gluconeogenesis (8 marks)
b. State the two phases of glycolysis giving the total number of ATPs consumed or gained in
each phase (4 marks)
c. Mention at least 4 key differences between fructolysis and glycolysis 8 marks
4.
a. Name the four groups of oxidoreductases 4 marks
b. Without explaining the mechanism of NADPH in erythrocytes in the diagram below, state
the role of NADPH in red blood cells? 4 marks

c. What is the name given to energy storage compounds also known as high energy phosphate
compounds chiefly found in the muscular tissue of animals and give an example of one such
compound found in humans 4 marks
d. Give at least two roles of ATP in biochemical reactions 4 marks
e. Name the two types of bonds in ATP that are between the gamma phosphate and the sugar 4
marks
5. Show the intermediates of the glycolysis pathway in order from glucose to pyruvate and the
enzymes catalyzing the reactions 20 marks

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