BIO2103 – Biochemistry
Lesson 2: Carbohydrates – Structure and Function
1. Which statement best defines carbohydrates?
A. Nitrogen-containing biomolecules that store genetic information
B. Polyhydroxy aldehydes or ketones with empirical formula (CH2O)n
C. Lipid molecules composed of fatty acids and glycerol
D. Proteins composed of amino acids
2. The simplest aldose is:
A. Dihydroxyacetone
B. Ribose
C. Glyceraldehyde
D. Glucose
3. The simplest ketose is:
A. Fructose
B. Dihydroxyacetone
C. Glyceraldehyde
D. Ribulose
4. Monosaccharides that differ at only one chiral carbon are called:
A. Anomers
B. Enantiomers
C. Epimers
D. Isomers
5. Cyclization of an aldose forms a:
A. Hemiketal
B. Hemiacetal
C. Ester
D. Ether
6. The anomeric carbon is:
A. The highest numbered carbon
B. The carbon attached to phosphate
C. The former carbonyl carbon that becomes chiral
D. The terminal methyl carbon
7. Reducing sugars are characterized by:
A. Presence of peptide bonds
B. Absence of hydroxyl groups
C. Free anomeric carbon capable of oxidation
D. High molecular weight
8. Sugar alcohols are formed by:
A. Oxidation of aldehydes
B. Mild reduction of monosaccharides
C. Phosphorylation
D. Peptide bond formation
9. β-D-2-Deoxyribose is essential in:
A. RNA synthesis
B. DNA structure
C. Glycogen storage
D. Cellulose fibers
10. Amino sugars differ from monosaccharides because they contain:
A. Sulfate groups
B. Acetylated amine groups
C. Carboxyl groups
D. Double bonds
11. Disaccharides are formed through:
A. Hydrogen bonding
B. Glycosidic linkages
C. Peptide bonds
D. Ionic interactions
12. Amylose consists primarily of:
A. β(1→4) linked glucose
B. α(1→6) linked glucose
C. α(1→4) linked glucose
D. β(1→6) linked glucose
13. Glycogen differs from amylopectin because it:
A. Contains β linkages
B. Is unbranched
C. Is more highly branched
D. Contains fructose
14. Humans cannot digest cellulose because:
A. It lacks glucose
B. It is insoluble
C. Humans lack β(1→4) hydrolyzing enzymes
D. It is highly branched
15. Cellulose is composed of:
A. α(1→4) linked glucose
B. β(1→4) linked glucose
C. β(1→6) linked glucose
D. Alternating glucose and fructose
16. Chitin is structurally similar to cellulose but contains:
A. Sulfate groups
B. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine
C. Fructose units
D. Phosphate esters
17. Peptidoglycan is primarily found in:
A. Plant cell walls
B. Animal connective tissue
C. Bacterial cell walls
D. Fungal mitochondria
18. Homopolysaccharides contain:
A. One type of monosaccharide
B. Two alternating sugars
C. Amino acids
D. Lipids
19. Heteropolysaccharides contain:
A. Only glucose
B. Only fructose
C. Two or more different monosaccharides
D. No glycosidic bonds
20. Hyaluronate belongs to which class?
A. Glycosaminoglycans
B. Disaccharides
C. Homopolysaccharides
D. Lipoproteins
21. Heparin functions primarily as a:
A. Structural polymer
B. Digestive enzyme
C. Anticoagulant
D. Storage polysaccharide
22. The ABO blood group is determined by:
A. Protein enzymes
B. Oligosaccharide antigens
C. Lipid membranes
D. DNA mutations
23. Starch serves as the main energy storage molecule in:
A. Animals
B. Bacteria
C. Plants
D. Fungi
24. Glycogen is primarily stored in:
A. Chloroplasts
B. Liver and muscle tissues
C. Plant vacuoles
D. Fungal spores
25. Agar is widely used in laboratories as a:
A. Reducing agent
B. Buffer solution
C. Solidifying agent in culture media
D. Metabolic enzyme
26. Sugar esters are important because they:
A. Store oxygen
B. Act as metabolic intermediates
C. Form peptide bonds
D. Replace DNA bases
27. An α-anomer differs from a β-anomer at the:
A. Terminal carbon
B. Phosphate group
C. Anomeric carbon configuration
D. Methyl group
28. Oligosaccharides typically contain how many monosaccharide units?
A. 1–2
B. 3–10
C. 20–50
D. Over 100
29. The major structural polysaccharide of fungal cell walls is:
A. Starch
B. Glycogen
C. Cellulose
D. Chitin
30. The increased branching of glycogen enhances:
A. Structural rigidity
B. Resistance to enzymes
C. Rapid mobilization of glucose
D. Insolubility in water