BIO2103 – Biochemistry
Lesson 2: Carbohydrates – Structure and Function
1. A researcher isolates a biomolecule with the formula (CH2O)n and multiple hydroxyl groups. Which
class does it most likely belong to?
A. Lipids
B. Nucleic acids
C. Carbohydrates
D. Proteins
2. A sugar sample reacts positively with Benedict’s reagent. What property explains this reaction?
A. Presence of peptide bonds
B. Free anomeric carbon
C. High branching
D. Phosphate substitution
3. During cyclization of glucose, a new chiral center forms. What is this carbon called?
A. Carboxyl carbon
B. Epimeric carbon
C. Anomeric carbon
D. Terminal carbon
4. Two glucose molecules differ only in orientation at carbon 1 after cyclization. They are classified as:
A. Epimers
B. Enantiomers
C. Anomers
D. Isotopes
5. A patient lacks the enzyme to digest β(1→4) linkages. Which carbohydrate will pass undigested?
A. Glycogen
B. Amylose
C. Cellulose
D. Maltose
6. A polysaccharide sample shows extensive α(1→6) branching every 8–10 residues. Identify it.
A. Amylose
B. Glycogen
C. Cellulose
D. Agarose
7. A plant cell wall sample contains rigid fibers formed by hydrogen bonding between parallel chains.
Which polymer is present?
A. Starch
B. Glycogen
C. Cellulose
D. Heparin
8. A DNA analysis reveals the presence of a sugar lacking an –OH at C2. What sugar is this?
A. Ribose
B. Glucose
C. Deoxyribose
D. Fructose
9. A microbiologist cultures bacteria on agar plates. Agar primarily functions as:
A. Nutrient source
B. Enzyme inhibitor
C. Solidifying agent
D. Reducing sugar
10. A mutation alters the oligosaccharide on red blood cells, changing blood type. These surface
molecules are:
A. Phospholipids
B. Glycoproteins with oligosaccharides
C. DNA fragments
D. Fatty acids
11. A sugar undergoes mild reduction producing a sweet-tasting compound used in sugar-free gum.
This product is a:
A. Sugar acid
B. Sugar alcohol
C. Amino sugar
D. Sugar ester
12. A structural polysaccharide in arthropods contains N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Identify it.
A. Hyaluronate
B. Glycogen
C. Chitin
D. Amylopectin
13. A carbohydrate composed of alternating GlcNAc and N-acetylmuramic acid forms a bacterial wall.
This is:
A. Agarose
B. Peptidoglycan
C. Cellulose
D. Heparin
14. A disaccharide is hydrolyzed into glucose and fructose. Which bond was broken?
A. Peptide bond
B. Phosphodiester bond
C. Glycosidic bond
D. Hydrogen bond
15. A liver biopsy reveals large pink-staining granules used for energy storage. These are:
A. Starch granules
B. Glycogen granules
C. Cellulose fibers
D. Agar deposits
16. A carbohydrate classified as a heteropolysaccharide must contain:
A. Only glucose
B. One repeating sugar
C. Two or more different monosaccharides
D. No glycosidic bonds
17. During metabolism, glucose is phosphorylated to glucose-6-phosphate. This compound is a:
A. Sugar ester
B. Sugar acid
C. Sugar alcohol
D. Disaccharide
18. A connective tissue sample shows a lubricant composed of repeating disaccharide units. Identify it.
A. Starch
B. Hyaluronate
C. Amylose
D. Maltose
19. A highly sulfated polysaccharide acts as an anticoagulant in blood. This molecule is:
A. Heparin
B. Agar
C. Cellulose
D. Glycogen
20. A carbohydrate composed of 3–10 monosaccharide units is classified as:
A. Monosaccharide
B. Disaccharide
C. Oligosaccharide
D. Polysaccharide
21. A plant stores energy in chloroplasts in the form of granules composed of glucose polymers. These
are:
A. Glycogen
B. Starch
C. Chitin
D. Peptidoglycan
22. A cyclic ketose forms through intramolecular reaction between a ketone and alcohol group. The
product is a:
A. Hemiacetal
B. Hemiketal
C. Ester
D. Amide
23. A sugar oxidized to glucuronic acid becomes classified as a:
A. Sugar alcohol
B. Amino sugar
C. Sugar acid
D. Disaccharide
24. A carbohydrate polymer consisting only of glucose units is a:
A. Heteropolysaccharide
B. Homopolysaccharide
C. Glycoprotein
D. Proteoglycan
25. A pyranose ring adopts a chair conformation to:
A. Increase instability
B. Maximize ring strain
C. Minimize steric hindrance
D. Break glycosidic bonds
26. A sugar containing an acetylated amine substituent is best classified as:
A. Amino sugar
B. Deoxy sugar
C. Sugar alcohol
D. Sugar ester
27. A biochemist identifies α(1→4) linkages in a linear glucose polymer. This describes:
A. Amylose
B. Cellulose
C. Chitin
D. Agarose
28. A glucose molecule in its open-chain form contains which functional group?
A. Ketone
B. Aldehyde
C. Amide
D. Ester
29. A fungal cell wall sample primarily contains which structural carbohydrate?
A. Starch
B. Glycogen
C. Chitin
D. Hyaluronate
30. Increased branching in an energy storage polysaccharide primarily improves:
A. Structural rigidity
B. Enzymatic access for rapid glucose release
C. Resistance to hydrolysis
D. Insolubility