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C1.1 Enzymes and metabolism

Practice exam-style IB Biology questions for Enzymes and metabolism, aligned with the syllabus and grouped by topic.

Verified by Fatima F.
Verified by Fatima F.
Paper
Difficulty
Status
Level
Question 1
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Easy
Calculator Permitted

What property allows a small amount of enzyme to catalyse many reactions in a cell?

A.

The enzyme is regenerated after product formation.

B.

The enzyme becomes part of each product molecule.

C.

The enzyme supplies the energy released by the products.

D.

The enzyme changes the final energy of the products.

Question 2
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Easy
Calculator Permitted

A reaction joins many glucose molecules to form glycogen and releases water. What classification best describes this reaction?

A.

Catabolic condensation

B.

Anabolic condensation

C.

Anabolic hydrolysis

D.

Catabolic hydrolysis

Question 3
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Easy
Calculator Permitted

An enzyme is tested at increasing substrate concentrations while temperature, pH and enzyme concentration are kept constant. The rate rises rapidly at first and then levels off. What explains the levelling off?

Enzyme reaction rate rises with substrate concentration and then levels off.
A.

Most active sites are occupied at any moment.

B.

The enzyme molecules have all been used up as reactants.

C.

Substrate molecules have stopped moving randomly.

D.

The pH has moved away from the enzyme optimum.

Question 4
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Easy
Calculator Permitted

Catalase activity is measured by collecting oxygen from hydrogen peroxide. A student collects 18.0 cm318.0\ \text{cm}^3 of oxygen in 30.0 s30.0\ \text{s}. What is the reaction rate?

A.

1.67 cm3 s−11.67\ \text{cm}^3\ \text{s}^{-1}

B.

540 cm3 s−1540\ \text{cm}^3\ \text{s}^{-1}

C.

0.60 cm3 s−10.60\ \text{cm}^3\ \text{s}^{-1}

D.

48.0 cm3 s−148.0\ \text{cm}^3\ \text{s}^{-1}

Question 5
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Easy
Calculator Permitted

What row correctly classifies examples of enzyme-catalysed reactions by location?

A.

Krebs cycle: extracellular; glycolysis: extracellular

B.

Glycolysis: extracellular; chemical digestion in the gut: intracellular

C.

Glycolysis: intracellular; chemical digestion in the gut: extracellular

D.

Chemical digestion in the gut: intracellular; Krebs cycle: extracellular

Question 6
SL ‱ Paper 2
Easy
Calculator Permitted

A cell controls a metabolic pathway by changing the amount of one enzyme that catalyses an early step in the pathway.

A

Define enzyme.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain how enzyme specificity allows control of metabolism.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 7
SL ‱ Paper 2
Easy
Calculator Permitted

Metabolic reactions can be classified as anabolic or catabolic.

A

State whether protein synthesis is anabolic or catabolic.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Distinguish between anabolic and catabolic reactions.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

State one example of a catabolic reaction in humans.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 8
HL ‱ Paper 2
Easy
Calculator Permitted

Enzyme-catalysed reactions can occur inside cells or outside the cells that secrete the enzymes.

A

Distinguish between intracellular and extracellular enzyme-catalysed reactions, using examples.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain one advantage of extracellular digestion.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 9
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagram shows an energy profile for the same reaction with and without an enzyme. What change is caused by the enzyme?

An energy profile diagram with reaction progress on the x-axis and energy on the y-axis. Two curves start at the same substrate energy level and end at the same product energy level. The uncatalysed pathway has a higher peak than the enzyme-catalysed pathway. Labels show substrate, product and transition state but do not label which option is correct.
A.

It lowers the product energy level and makes the reaction irreversible.

B.

It removes the transition state so that no bonds need to break.

C.

It lowers the activation energy but leaves the overall energy change unchanged.

D.

It raises the activation energy and increases the product energy level.

Question 10
SL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The best diagram of induced-fit binding in an enzyme-catalysed reaction is shown in which option?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Question 11
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagram that best represents a cyclical metabolic pathway is shown in which option?

A.
B.
C.
D.
Question 12
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A reversible inhibitor binds to a site on an enzyme that is not the active site. The active site changes shape and catalysis is reduced. What type of inhibition is described?

A.

Competitive inhibition

B.

Mechanism-based inhibition

C.

Non-competitive inhibition

D.

Substrate-level inhibition

Question 13
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

In the pathway producing isoleucine, high isoleucine concentration regulates the pathway by acting on threonine deaminase. What is the mechanism?

A.

Isoleucine binds to the final product and converts it back into threonine.

B.

Threonine binds to isoleucine and prevents it from leaving the pathway.

C.

Isoleucine binds allosterically to the first enzyme, reducing entry of threonine into the pathway.

D.

Threonine deaminase permanently destroys isoleucine when its concentration becomes high.

Question 14
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Penicillin inhibits bacterial transpeptidase by mechanism-based inhibition. What change could confer resistance to penicillin?

A.

A transpeptidase active site that binds penicillin more tightly

B.

An altered transpeptidase active site that binds penicillin less effectively

C.

A loss of all peptidoglycan strands from the bacterial cell wall

D.

A transpeptidase that converts penicillin into a normal cell wall monomer

Question 15
SL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagram shows a substrate binding to the active site of an enzyme.

An IB-style diagram of a globular enzyme before and after substrate binding. The enzyme is shown as a compact folded shape with a small active-site pocket. A substrate approaches the pocket in the first panel and is bound in the second panel. The second panel shows a slight change in shape of both the active-site region and substrate. Labels include enzyme, substrate, active site and enzyme-substrate complex.
A

State why the overall three-dimensional structure of the enzyme is important for catalysis.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain induced-fit binding in enzyme catalysis.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 16
SL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The graph shows the effect of substrate concentration on the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction when enzyme concentration is constant.

Effect of substrate concentration on enzyme reaction rate.
A

Describe the relationship shown in the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain the plateau in the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 17
SL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Enzyme activity is affected by temperature and pH.

A

State the effect of increasing temperature on enzyme activity below the optimum temperature.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain why enzyme activity decreases above the optimum temperature.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Outline why different enzymes can have different optimum pH values.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 18
HL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Small mammals increase their metabolic rate in cold conditions.

A

Explain why metabolic reactions generate heat.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

State how this heat production is useful to mammals and birds.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 19
HL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagram represents two types of metabolic pathway.

A simple pathway diagram with two panels. One panel shows a linear sequence of enzyme-catalysed steps from an initial substrate through intermediates to a final product. The other panel shows a circular sequence of enzyme-catalysed steps in which intermediates are regenerated and the cycle can repeat. Labels identify initial substrate, intermediates, final product, regenerated intermediate and enzyme-catalysed step.
A

State the feature that makes a pathway cyclical.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Compare glycolysis and the Krebs cycle as metabolic pathways.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest why regeneration of an intermediate is useful in a cyclical pathway.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 20
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Catalase catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. In an investigation, equal volumes of catalase extract were added to hydrogen peroxide solutions at the same temperature and pH. The oxygen produced was collected in a gas syringe.

Catalase reaction time course with tangent line.
A

Calculate the initial rate of oxygen production using the tangent shown on the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Describe the change in rate during the reaction.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest why the reaction rate changes in this way.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 21
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A student measured the rate of an enzyme-catalysed reaction at different substrate concentrations. Enzyme concentration, temperature and pH were kept constant.

Measured enzyme reaction rate at different substrate concentrations.
A

Describe the relationship between substrate concentration and reaction rate shown in the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Suggest why increasing substrate concentration has little effect in the plateau region.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

State one control variable that should be kept constant in this investigation, other than enzyme concentration.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 22
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The table summarizes enzyme-catalysed reactions in three metabolic processes.

Metabolic processExample enzyme-catalysed reactionWhere the enzymes act
Glycolysisglucose is converted to pyruvatecytoplasm of cells
Chemical digestion in the gutfood macromolecules are hydrolysed to smaller moleculesgut lumen (outside the secreting cells)
Krebs cycleacetyl-CoA is broken down to carbon dioxidemitochondrial matrix of cells
A

Identify the process in the table that uses extracellular enzymes.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Compare the locations of the enzymes in glycolysis and chemical digestion in the gut.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest why extracellular digestion is needed before many food molecules can be absorbed.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 23
HL ‱ Paper 1A
Medium
Calculator Permitted

An enzyme is tested with no inhibitor, with a fixed concentration of a competitive inhibitor, and with a fixed concentration of a non-competitive inhibitor. Substrate concentration is then increased to a very high value. What outcome is expected?

A.

Both inhibitor curves approach the same lower maximum rate because both inhibitors bind allosteric sites.

B.

The competitive inhibitor curve can approach the uninhibited maximum rate, but the non-competitive inhibitor curve remains lower.

C.

Neither inhibitor curve changes because substrate concentration does not affect enzyme activity.

D.

The non-competitive inhibitor curve approaches the uninhibited maximum rate, but the competitive inhibitor curve remains lower.

Question 24
SL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Catalase catalyses the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide. In an investigation, 12.0 cm312.0\ \text{cm}^3 of oxygen was collected in the first 20.0 s20.0\ \text{s} of the reaction.

A

Calculate the mean rate of oxygen production during the first 20.0 s20.0\ \text{s}.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

State one variable, other than hydrogen peroxide concentration, that should be controlled in this investigation.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain how enzymes increase reaction rate by affecting activation energy.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 25
HL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A reversible inhibitor binds to an enzyme at a site separate from the active site.

A diagram of a globular enzyme showing a labelled active site with a substrate nearby and a separate labelled allosteric site with an inhibitor bound. A second version of the enzyme shows a changed overall shape and a distorted active site after inhibitor binding. The diagram indicates that inhibitor binding is reversible without implying substrate concentration effects.
A

Define allosteric site.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain how a reversible non-competitive inhibitor reduces enzyme activity.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 26
HL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The graph shows enzyme activity at increasing substrate concentration with no inhibitor, with a competitive inhibitor and with a non-competitive inhibitor.

Reaction rate changes with substrate concentration under three conditions.
A

Explain how statins act as competitive inhibitors.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Distinguish between the effects of competitive and non-competitive inhibition when substrate concentration is increased.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 27
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The effect of pH on the activity of two digestive enzymes was investigated using equal enzyme concentrations and equal substrate concentrations.

Line graph showing relative activity of pepsin and amylase across pH.
A

State the optimum pH for amylase in this investigation.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Compare the effect of pH on the activities of pepsin and amylase.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain why amylase activity is low at extreme pH values.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 28
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagram shows a model of induced-fit binding during an enzyme-catalysed reaction.

An annotated sequence diagram with three stages. Stage 1 shows a globular enzyme with a labelled active site and a separate substrate approaching. Stage 2 shows the substrate bound and the enzyme and substrate slightly changed in shape, with weak interactions indicated between the active site and substrate. Stage 3 shows products leaving and the enzyme returning to its original active form. Labels include enzyme, substrate, active site, enzyme-substrate complex and products.
A

Identify the labelled region where catalysis occurs.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Describe the evidence in the diagram that the model represents induced fit rather than a rigid lock-and-key model.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain how induced-fit binding can increase the rate of product formation.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 29
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The energy changes in a chemical reaction are shown with and without an enzyme.

Energy profile of a reaction with and without an enzyme.
A

Using the graph, state the effect of the enzyme on activation energy.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

State the effect of the enzyme on the overall energy difference between substrates and products.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain why lowering activation energy increases reaction rate in cells.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 30
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

A small mammal was exposed to decreasing environmental temperatures. Its oxygen consumption and body temperature were monitored. Oxygen consumption was used as an indicator of metabolic rate.

Environmental temperature / °COxygen consumption / mL O2 min^-1 kg^-1Body temperature / °C
351.237.0
301.237.0
251.237.0
201.837.0
152.637.0
103.837.0
55.037.0
A

Describe the change in metabolic rate as environmental temperature decreases below the thermoneutral range.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain why increased metabolic activity can help maintain body temperature.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest one mechanism that could increase metabolic heat production in the mammal.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 31
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Medium
Calculator Permitted

The diagrams show simplified representations of three metabolic pathways.

Three pathway diagrams labelled pathway A, pathway B and pathway C. One shows a straight sequence from glucose through several intermediates to pyruvate. One shows a circular sequence of carbon compounds with an entry molecule joining and products leaving. One shows a circular pathway in photosynthetic carbon fixation with regeneration of a starting acceptor molecule. Enzyme symbols appear beside each step, but the diagrams do not label the pathways as linear or cyclical.
A

Identify the pathway that represents glycolysis.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Distinguish between a linear pathway and a cyclical pathway using evidence from the diagrams.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

State one cyclical pathway shown that occurs in metabolism.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 32
HL ‱ Paper 2
Medium
Calculator Permitted

Two examples of enzyme regulation or inhibition are feedback inhibition in isoleucine synthesis and inhibition of bacterial transpeptidase by penicillin.

A

Explain feedback inhibition in the pathway that produces isoleucine.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain why penicillin is described as a mechanism-based inhibitor and how a changed transpeptidase can confer resistance.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 33
SL ‱ Paper 1B
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A simplified metabolic network in a liver cell is shown. The arrows represent enzyme-catalysed reactions. Some reactions require ATP and release water; others use water and release smaller molecules.

A flowchart-style metabolic network with labelled metabolites: glucose, glycogen, amino acids, polypeptide, fatty acids, glycerol, carbon dioxide and water. Arrows show glucose units joining to glycogen with ATP input and water release, amino acids joining to a polypeptide with water release, glycogen breaking down to glucose with water input, and respiratory oxidation of glucose leading to carbon dioxide, water and ATP. Different arrow styles distinguish synthesis and breakdown reactions without labelling them as anabolic or catabolic.
A

Deduce one anabolic reaction shown in the network.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Deduce one catabolic reaction shown in the network.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain one difference between the anabolic and catabolic reactions shown.

[2]
Write your answer here...
D

Suggest why many different enzymes are needed in the network.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 34
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Hard
Calculator Permitted

An enzyme was tested at different substrate concentrations with no inhibitor, with inhibitor X and with inhibitor Y. The same enzyme concentration was used in all trials.

Enzyme rate measured across substrate concentrations with three conditions.
A

Identify which inhibitor is most likely to be competitive.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain the effect of increasing substrate concentration on competitive inhibition.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Explain why inhibitor Y is unlikely to be competitive.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 35
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Hard
Calculator Permitted

The pathway that produces isoleucine from threonine includes several enzyme-catalysed steps. Threonine deaminase catalyses the first committed step. The activity of threonine deaminase was measured at different isoleucine concentrations.

Measured threonine deaminase activity at different isoleucine concentrations.
A

Describe the effect of increasing isoleucine concentration on threonine deaminase activity.

[1]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain how the data provide evidence for feedback inhibition.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest why feedback inhibition is useful to the cell.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 36
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

Sucrase catalyses the hydrolysis of sucrose to glucose and fructose. The figure shows an energy model for the same reaction with and without sucrase.

Energy profile for hydrolysis with and without sucrase.
A
I.

Explain how induced fit allows sucrase to catalyse the hydrolysis reaction.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain what the figure shows about the effect of sucrase on activation energy.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Compare the role of sucrase with the role of sucrose in this reaction.

[1]
Write your answer here...
C

Evaluate the usefulness of an energy profile graph as a model of enzyme action.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 37
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

The diagram represents part of metabolism in a liver cell, including glycogen formation, glycogen breakdown, amino acid polymerization and oxidation of glucose during respiration.

A metabolic pathway diagram with labelled boxes for glucose, glycogen, amino acids, polypeptide, carbon dioxide, water and ATP. Arrows show glucose joining to form glycogen, glycogen breaking down to glucose, amino acids joining to form a polypeptide, and glucose being oxidized during respiration. Different enzymes are shown beside several arrows but not named.
A
I.

Compare anabolic and catabolic reactions using examples from the diagram.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Distinguish condensation and hydrolysis reactions in metabolism.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain why enzyme specificity is important in a network of interdependent metabolic reactions.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 38
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A protease extracted from seeds has a narrow pH range for activity. Outside this range, the rate of protein digestion decreases rapidly.

Relative protease activity measured over a pH range.
A
I.

Explain how the three-dimensional structure of an enzyme produces a functional active site.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain why changes in pH reduce protease activity away from the optimum.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Discuss why denaturation can reduce enzyme-substrate specificity even if the condition causing denaturation does not act directly on the active site.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 39
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

The activity of a membrane-embedded enzyme was measured at increasing concentrations of a soluble substrate. The enzyme molecules were fixed in the membrane, but the substrate molecules were free to diffuse.

Experimental rates with a smooth saturation model.
A
I.

Describe the relationship between substrate concentration and reaction rate shown in the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain the relationship using molecular motion and substrate-active site collisions.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Evaluate the use of the smooth curve as a biological model for these experimental results.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 40
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

In mammals, digestive enzymes are secreted into the gut lumen, while enzymes of glycolysis and the Krebs cycle act inside cells. Metabolic reactions also contribute to body temperature regulation.

A
I.

Compare intracellular and extracellular enzyme-catalysed reactions.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain why extracellular digestion is useful before absorption.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Discuss the role of metabolic heat generation in mammals.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 41
HL ‱ Paper 1B
Hard
Calculator Permitted

Penicillin inhibits bacterial transpeptidase, an enzyme involved in cross-linking peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls. Two bacterial strains were tested. Strain A is susceptible to penicillin. Strain B has an altered transpeptidase.

Bar chart of transpeptidase activity in two bacterial strains across treatment stages.
A

Compare the effect of penicillin on transpeptidase activity in strain A and strain B.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain why the persistence of inhibition after washing supports mechanism-based inhibition.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Suggest how the altered transpeptidase in strain B could confer resistance to penicillin.

[1]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 42
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

Catalase activity was investigated using potato extract and hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen production was used as a measure of enzyme activity at different temperatures.

Catalase activity changes with temperature.
A
I.

Deduce the optimum temperature for catalase in this investigation.

[1]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain the shape of the temperature curve.

[3]
Write your answer here...
B

Explain how increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration would affect catalase activity if temperature was kept at the optimum.

[2]
Write your answer here...
C

Evaluate two aspects of the experimental design that should be controlled to make the temperature results valid.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 43
SL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A student measured oxygen released by catalase from hydrogen peroxide using a gas syringe. The graph shows cumulative oxygen volume against time.

Cumulative oxygen released by catalase over time.
A
I.

Determine the initial rate of reaction from the tangent shown on the graph. Show your working.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain why the initial rate is usually more useful than the rate calculated from the whole graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Suggest two improvements or precautions for this catalase investigation.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 44
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

The figure compares simplified representations of glycolysis, the Krebs cycle and the Calvin cycle.

A comparative pathway diagram. One section shows a linear sequence labelled glycolysis, starting with glucose and ending with pyruvate through several intermediates. Two other sections show cyclical pathways labelled Krebs cycle and Calvin cycle, each with a regenerated acceptor molecule and arrows showing repeated turns of the cycle. Enzymes are indicated beside steps without naming individual enzymes.
A
I.

Distinguish linear and cyclical metabolic pathways using examples from the figure.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain why regeneration of an intermediate is essential in a cyclical pathway.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Evaluate the likely effect of inhibiting one enzyme in the middle of a metabolic pathway.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 45
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

The pathway for isoleucine synthesis begins with threonine. Isoleucine can bind to threonine deaminase, the enzyme catalysing the first committed step.

A linear pathway diagram showing threonine converted through several intermediates into isoleucine. Each step is shown with an enzyme symbol. A feedback arrow from isoleucine curves back to an allosteric site on threonine deaminase at the first committed step. The active site and allosteric site on threonine deaminase are shown as separate regions.
A
I.

Explain how isoleucine regulates its own synthesis by feedback inhibition.

[3]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain why this is an example of negative feedback.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Evaluate the advantage of inhibiting the first committed step rather than a later step in the pathway.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 46
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

A regulatory molecule R binds reversibly to an enzyme at a site separate from the active site. The effect of R was tested at different substrate concentrations.

Reaction rate at increasing substrate concentrations with and without R.
A
I.

Explain how binding of R at an allosteric site can reduce enzyme activity.

[3]
Write your answer here...
II.

Compare reversible non-competitive inhibition with irreversible mechanism-based inhibition.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Evaluate whether the graph supports the conclusion that R is a non-competitive inhibitor.

[2]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 47
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

An enzyme was tested at increasing substrate concentrations with no inhibitor, with inhibitor X and with inhibitor Y. One inhibitor is competitive and the other is non-competitive.

Enzyme reaction rate under three conditions.
A
I.

Identify which inhibitor is competitive and which is non-competitive, using evidence from the graph.

[2]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain the different effects of increasing substrate concentration on competitive and non-competitive inhibition.

[3]
Write your answer here...
B

Statins competitively inhibit HMG-CoA reductase in cholesterol synthesis. Discuss why statin dose must be controlled.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0

Question 48
HL ‱ Paper 2
Hard
Calculator Permitted

Penicillin inhibits bacterial transpeptidase, an enzyme required for cross-linking peptidoglycan in bacterial cell walls. Some resistant bacteria have altered transpeptidase enzymes.

A two-panel diagram. The first panel shows normal transpeptidase with peptidoglycan substrates in its active site and cross-links forming in a bacterial cell wall. The second panel shows penicillin bound at the active site of transpeptidase and a weakened peptidoglycan wall with fewer cross-links. A separate small inset shows an altered active site in resistant transpeptidase with reduced penicillin binding.
A
I.

Explain why penicillin is described as a mechanism-based irreversible inhibitor.

[3]
Write your answer here...
II.

Explain how altered transpeptidase can confer resistance to penicillin.

[2]
Write your answer here...
B

Discuss why inhibition of transpeptidase can kill growing bacterial cells.

[3]
Write your answer here...

0


C1.2 Cell respiration