Enzymes MCQs set 2 for Army Medical College (AMC) Entry Test Biology — 20 solved questions.
Q1. During glycolysis, which enzyme is responsible for converting phosphoenolpyruvate to pyruvate?
Answer: Pyruvate kinase
Explanation: Pyruvate kinase catalyzes this step, unlike phosphofructokinase which acts earlier
Q2. What type of inhibition is characterized by the inhibitor binding to the active site of the enzyme?
Answer: Competitive inhibition
Explanation: Competitive inhibition involves direct competition with substrate for the active site
Q3. A patient has a deficiency of the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase. Which process would be most affected?
Answer: Glycolysis
Explanation: Lactate dehydrogenase is crucial for the conversion of pyruvate to lactate during anaerobic glycolysis
Q4. What is the term for the non-protein component of an enzyme that is required for its activity?
Answer: Cofactor
Explanation: Cofactors can be either inorganic ions or organic compounds like coenzymes
Q5. An enzyme has a Km of 0.1 mM and Vmax of 100 μmol/min. What is the significance of the Km value?
Answer: It is the substrate concentration at which the enzyme reaches half of Vmax
Explanation: Km is the Michaelis constant, indicating the substrate concentration for half-maximal velocity
Q6. Which of the following statements about enzymes is TRUE?
Answer: Enzymes lower the activation energy of a reaction
Explanation: Enzymes decrease the activation energy, speeding up the reaction without being consumed
Q7. What is the purpose of the enzyme pyruvate carboxylase in gluconeogenesis?
Answer: To convert pyruvate to oxaloacetate
Explanation: Pyruvate carboxylase catalyzes the conversion of pyruvate to oxaloacetate, a key step in gluconeogenesis
Q8. What is the term for the specific region on an enzyme where the substrate binds?
Answer: Active site
Explanation: The active site is where the enzyme-substrate complex forms, facilitating catalysis
Q9. An athlete consumes a high-carbohydrate meal before a race. Which enzyme plays a key role in the utilization of this carbohydrate source?
Answer: Phosphofructokinase
Explanation: Phosphofructokinase is a key regulatory enzyme in glycolysis, the primary pathway for carbohydrate utilization
Q10. What is the effect of a competitive inhibitor on the Km and Vmax of an enzyme?
Answer: Increases Km, no effect on Vmax
Explanation: Competitive inhibitors increase the Km by competing with the substrate, without affecting Vmax
Q11. Which of the following enzymes is NOT involved in the citric acid cycle?
Answer: Pyruvate kinase
Explanation: Pyruvate kinase is a glycolytic enzyme, not part of the citric acid cycle
Q12. What is the purpose of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphatase in gluconeogenesis?
Answer: To convert glucose-6-phosphate to glucose
Explanation: Glucose-6-phosphatase catalyzes the final step of gluconeogenesis, producing free glucose
Q13. A patient has a deficiency of the enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase. Which process would be most affected?
Answer: Gluconeogenesis
Explanation: Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase is a key enzyme in gluconeogenesis, catalyzing the conversion of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate to fructose-6-phosphate
Q14. What is the term for the study of the rates of chemical reactions, including enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
Answer: Kinetics
Explanation: Kinetics involves the study of reaction rates and mechanisms, including enzyme kinetics
Q15. Which enzyme is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids from acetyl-CoA?
Answer: Fatty acid synthase
Explanation: Fatty acid synthase is the enzyme complex responsible for fatty acid synthesis from acetyl-CoA and malonyl-CoA
Q16. What is the purpose of the enzyme phosphofructokinase-2 in gluconeogenesis?
Answer: To convert fructose-6-phosphate to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate
Explanation: Phosphofructokinase-2 catalyzes the formation of fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, a potent activator of glycolysis and inhibitor of gluconeogenesis
Q17. What is the term for a molecule that provides a transfer site for a functional group in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction?
Answer: Coenzyme
Explanation: Coenzymes act as carrier molecules for functional groups, facilitating enzyme catalysis
Q18. An enzyme has a high Km value for its substrate. What does this indicate about the enzyme-substrate interaction?
Answer: Low affinity
Explanation: A high Km indicates low affinity of the enzyme for its substrate, requiring higher substrate concentrations for half-maximal velocity
Q19. A nurse administers an anticoagulant to a patient, which works by inhibiting the enzyme prothrombinase. What is the name of this enzyme's cofactor?
Answer: Vitamin K
Explanation: Vitamin K is a cofactor for prothrombinase, essential for blood clotting
Q20. In a patient with maple syrup urine disease, which enzyme's deficiency leads to the accumulation of branched-chain amino acids?
Answer: Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase
Explanation: Branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase deficiency causes maple syrup urine disease