Below are the three major essay questions. I will either put one of these on the midterm in its
entirety or I will take pieces from each and split it into a series of smaller questions. Either way,
please know these three stories really well…
1.
CENTRAL DOGMA AND ENDOMEMBRANE: Describe / Draw a diagram showing
the details of The Central Dogma. You must include You are inside a liver cell taking a
cytoplasmic swim. On the outside, you observe insulin molecules binding to insulin
receptors. The cellular response will be to place glucose transporters, an integral membrane
protein, on the cell surface allowing glucose to enter the cell. Starting from the gene, explain
how glucose transporter proteins will find their way to the plasma membrane so that they
can do their job. Write from general to specific in a way that a person not familiar with
this process will understand.
The following terms must be included and in proper context within your answer. If I cannot tell that you know
what the word means then I cannot give you credit.
RNA polymerase, nucleus, chromatin, chromosome, DNA, nuclear pore, ERLS, SRP, SRP receptor,
Translocon, ribosome, ribosome receptor, pore proteins, small ribosomal subunit, large ribosomal subunit,
translocon, dehydration synthesis, codon, anticodon, A-site, P-site, stop codon, release factor, 5’ to 3’, cap,
poly-A tail, AUG, peptide bond formation, mRNA, tRNA, rRNA, amino acids, ER, Golgi, transport vesicle,
secretory vesicle, fusion, cis-maturation model, cis, trans, rough ER, randomly, thread, pinch, microtubule,
kinesin, ATP, glycosylation (two sites), ER resident enzymes, golgi resident enzymes, transcription,
translation.
2. CELL RESP: Starting with food on your kitchen table and oxygen in the air, explain how
cells convert the stored chemical potential “energy” in food to stored chemical potential
“energy” in ATP. Draw a diagram to accompany your explanation if you wish. Be as specific as
possible. Make sure you discuss affinity, reduction, oxidation, all of the energy transfers and
when exergonic processes power endergonic processes (energy coupling). You need specific
numbers for ATP used/made and NADH/FADH2 made for every step.
(The following terms MUST be properly included: ETC, chemiosmosis, oxidative phosphorylation, electron
carriers, heme, cytochrome c, ubiquinone, complex I, complex II, complex III, complex IV, mitochondria,
NAD+, NADH, citrate, citrate synthase, hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, G3P, FAD, FADH2, glycolysis,
glucose, cytosol, inner mitochondrial membrane, outer mitochondrial membrane, preparatory phase, energy
payoff phase, intermembrane space, ATP synthase, oxygen, digested, ATP, ADP, P i, H+(protons),
electrochecmiacl gradient, cristae, Coenzyme A, pyruvate, Krebs, cytoplasm, substrate, product, intermediate,
glucose transporter, reduced, oxidized facilitated diffusion, grooming, CO2, kinetic energy, potential energy,
energy coupling, heart, blood, lungs, protein complex, final electron acceptor, electronegativity, active
transport, endergonic, exergonic, affinity, substrate level phosphorylation, matrix, acetyl-CoA, electrons, G3P,
OAA, decarboxylation, enzymes and water.)
3. PHOTOSYNTHESIS
a. A CO2 molecule finds itself in the atmosphere over India. Meanwhile, a banana tree is
growing in Kerala, a state located in southwest India, which is the world leader in banana
production with an unprecedented 46 billion pounds produced annually. It is mid-July,
monsoon season. The rains are falling heavily as we zoom in on a hand full of water
molecules. They make their descent toward the Earth and crash into the soil below. These
particular water molecules will land near our banana tree. We know that H2O and CO2
have little accessible (free) energy as the shared electrons are held too tightly by oxygen.
Luckily, as the rain passes, a break begins to form in the clouds. Initially, a single ray of
light is able to penetrate, and strikes the leaf of the banana tree. The life-giving process of
photosynthesis has begun. Beginning with the water in the soil, CO2 in the atmosphere
(troposphere), and the photons of light hitting the leaf, describe the process of
photosynthesis that leads to the formation of a glucose AND an amino acid. Make sure
you discuss the energy of the electrons as they are passed along.
The following terms must be included: ETC, chemiosmosis, photophosphorylation, concentration
gradient, P700, plastoquinone, xylem, gluconeogenesis, light harvesting complex, water, NH4+
(ammonium), NO3-(nitrate), cytochorome b6f complex, soil, chloroplast, stomata (stomata), roots,
plastocyanin, mesophyll, thylakoid membrane, RuBP, 3-phosphoglycerate, 1-3 bisphosphoglycerate,
thylakoid compartment, P680, stroma, grana, NADP+, H+, ATP, guard cells, NADPH, ADP, Pi, electrons,
cellular respiration, reaction center, chlorophyll a, Rubisco, active site, chlorophyll b, Photosystem I,
ferredoxin, NADP+ reductase, phase 1: carbon fixation, phase 2: Reduction, Phase 3: Regeneration of
RuBP, Photosystem II, ATP Synthase, calvin cycle, G3P, PGAL, water splitting, dark reactions, primary
electron carrier, affinity, excited electron, reduction, oxidation, proton pump, endergonic, exergonic, energy
coupling, kinetic energy, potential energy, photolysis, Krebs intermediate, glycolysis, mitochondria,
pyruvate, acetyl CoA, free energy, electrochemical gradient)