MCQ

Question 1

The following holds true for the “central dogma in molecular biology”
i) DNA stores information that is passed on the mRNA
ii) DNA is concentrated in the nucleus
iii) mRNA holds the information for proteins
iv) A molecule is the smallest building block of the cell
v) It was introduced by Charles Darwin in 1871, when he wrote to a friend about
molecules at the beginning of cellular life

a) i, ii, and iii b) iv and v c) i and iii
d) iv only

Answer 1

C

Question 2

FLIP, FRAP and photo-activatable GFP are used to

a) Analyse protein mobility
b) Measure protein concentration c) Investigate protein function
d) Determine protein localization

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Bio-membranes show the following features

i) They consist of two layers of amphipathic lipids
ii) They form spontaneously due to their hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts iii) They provide an semi-liquid environment for proteins
iv) They surround transport vesicles
v) They define compartments in the cell

a) i, ii and iii
b) i, and iv
c) all of them
d) some other combination

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Molecules can cross the plasma membrane by

i) Facilitated diffusion ii) Endocytosis
iii) Phagocytosis
iv) The activity of channel proteins
v) Only in an ATP-dependent (energy consuming) way

a) i, ii and iii b) ii and iii c) iv and v d) i and iv

Answer 4

D

Question 5

Which of the following cell-cell contact sites interact with F-actin

a) Adherense junctions b) Desomosomes
c) Gap junctions
d) Hemidesmosomes

Answer 5

A

Question 6

Endocytic transport vesicles are

i) Formed at the plasma membrane ii) Are surrounded by a clathrin coat iii) Mature into an early endosome iv) Fuse with late endosomes
v) Mediate communication between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus

a) i, ii and iii b) i, ii and iv c) only i and ii d) only v

Answer 6

C

Question 7

The following holds true for intermediate filaments

i) Provides tracks for long-range motility of transport vesicles
ii) The use ATP-hydrolysis to control their stability (transition from monomers to polymers)
iii) They are non-polar protein assembles
iv) Many different proteins make up different type of intermediate filaments
v) A major role of the intermediate filaments is to provide mechanical strength to the cell

a) I and ii
b) ii, iii and v c) iii, iv and v d) all of them

Answer 7

C

Question 8

Exosomes are

a) Recycling vesicles, released from the early endosomes, that fuse at the plasma membrane (exocytosis)
b) Transport vesicles that support exocytosis at the plasma membrane
c) Extracellular vesicles that made at the plasma membrane
d) Vesicles that are released into the extracellular space from early endosomes

Answer 8

C

Question 9

Dynamic instability is

a) A process by which an added subunit is moving through a bio-polymer
b) A behaviour seen in microtubules, which is due to the exposure of GTP/GDP tubulin dimmers at the plus-end of the bio-polymer
c) A description for the dynamic behaviour and stability of protein assemblies in membranes
d) A status in which the ribosome is moving in a ratchet-like fashion along the mRNA molecule

Answer 9

B

Question 10

Membrane trafficking is a process that

a) Connects all membranous organelles in the cell (incl. mitochondria)
b) Is restricted to vesicle exchange between the endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane
c) Describes the motility of proteins within the semi-fluid bio-membrane (e.g. plasma membrane)
d) Involves motility of vesicles and organelles that fuse with each other, thereby exchanging proteins and lipids

Answer 10

D

Question 11

Endocytosis is

Select one:

a. the process of uptake of material into the cell
b. the same as secretion
c. the uptake of ions through ion channels
d. involved in protein import at the endoplasmic reticulum

Answer 11

A

Question 12

Which of the following structures confer resistance against shear forces and thereby ”strengthen” epithelial tissues?

i) Desmosomes
ii) Gap junctions
iii) Hemidesmosomes
iv) Tight junctions
v) Lipid rafts

Select one:

a. i, iii, iv
b. ii and iv
c. i, iii and v
d. only iv

Answer 12

A

Question 13

The plasma membrane contains which of the following?

i) Phospholipids
ii) Integral proteins
iii) Glycoproteins
iv) Steroids (such as cholesterol)

Select one:

a. Only i and iv
b. i, ii, and iv
c. Only i and ii
d. all of them

Answer 13

D

Question 14

Antony van Leeuwenhoek is famous for…

Select one:

a. the discovery of kinesin motors
b. his observations of the moon surface
c. his law of elasticity
d. the discovery of microbes using a simple microscope

Answer 14

D

Question 15

What is a major advantage of using green fluorescent protein in cell biology?

Select one:
a.
It is cheaper than any other staining method
b. It allows the observation of protein and organelles in living cells
c. It is less toxic than other stains
d. Its use is recommended by environmental organisations

Answer 15

B

Question 16

Actin-binding proteins have the following roles

i) Bundling of actin
ii) Controlling polymerization of actin
iii) Nucleating actin
iv) Mediating transport along actin
v) Stabilising actin

Select one:

a. i, ii, iv and v
b. i, ii and v
c. iii and v
d. all of them

Answer 16

D

Question 17

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (sER) supports

Select one:

a. synthesis of lipids
b. production of ATP
c. processing of secreted proteins
d. photosynthesis

Answer 17

A

Question 18

The animal centrosome

i) organises the microtubule array (is therefore called a “microtubule-organising centre”)
ii) nucleates microtubules
iii) is associated with the nucleus of the cell
iv) consists of centrioles and peri-centriolar material
v) is connected to the minus ends of microtubules

Select one:

a. i, iii and v
b. i, iv and v
c. ii and v
d. All of the above i to v

Answer 18

D

Question 19

Microtubule plus end-binding proteins have which of the following roles?

i) Control of microtubule dynamics
ii) Mediating interactions with the plasma membrane
iii) Interacting with the minus end of another microtubule
iv) Transporting signals from the centrosome to the plasma membrane
v) Interacting with F-actin

Select one:

a. iii and v
b. b. i, ii and v
c. c. i and ii
d. i, ii, iv and v

Answer 19

C

Question 20

Which of the following subcellular structures are NOT found in prokaryotes?

a) Cell wall
b) Nucleoid
c) Ribosome
d) Golgi apparatus

Select one:

a. Cell wall
b. Nucleoid
c. Ribosome
d. Golgi apparatus

Answer 20

D

Question 21

The endosomal compartment consists of

i) lysosomes
ii) early endosomes
iii) recycling endosomes
iv) late endosomes

Select one:

a. i, ii, iii and iv
b. i, and iv
c. ii, iii, iv and v
d. ii, iii and iv

Answer 21

D

Question 22

Organelles of the endomembrane system communicate with each other by

Select one:

a. transporting vesicles
b. electrochemical signals
c. import of proteins via channels in their membranes
d. kinase and phosphatase exchange

Answer 22

A

Question 23

The nucleus contains which of the following?

i) Heterochromatin
ii) Peroxisomes
iii) Euchromatin
iv) A nucleolus
v) Cristae

Select one:

a. i and iii
b. iii, iv, and v
c. i, ii, iii and v
d. i, iii and iv

Answer 23

D

Question 24

A pump in the plasma membrane often has which of the following characteristics:

i) It only allows passage of uncharged molecules
ii) It can be gated
iii) It uses ATP to transport ions against their concentration gradient
iv) It transports ions
v) It allows passage of molecules in and out of the cell

Select one:

a. i and iii
b. ii and iv
c. ii and v
d. iii and iv

Answer 24

D

Question 25

Which of the following vesicles are released into the extracellular space by fusion of endosomes with the plasma membrane?

Select one:

a. Ectosomes
b. Exosomes
c. Phagosomes
d. Melanosomes

Answer 25

B

Question 26

usion of transport vesicles with a target membrane involves

i) tethering of the vesicle to factors in the target membrane
ii) exchange of signaling molecules between the vesicle and the membrane
iii) docking of the vesicle to the target membrane
iv) signalling to the nucleus
v) recycling of the vesicle for reuse

Select one:

a. ii and iv
b. iii, iv and v
c. i, ii, iii and iv
d. i and iii

Answer 26

D

Question 27

The molecules that are generally considered to perform “work” in the cell are?

Select one:

a. Proteins
b. DNAs
c. Fatty acids
d. RNAs

Answer 27

A

Question 28

Which of the following componets of the cell often make up part of an intracellular signalling pathway?

i) Intracellular signaling proteins
ii) Receptor proteins
iii) Effector proteins
iv) Transport vesicles
v) Cytoskeletal protein fibres

Select one:

a. v and iii
b. iv and ii
c. i, ii and iii
d. only i and ii

Answer 28

C

Question 29

The S-phase of the cell cycle is when…

Select one:

a. mRNA is transcribed
b. Microtubules polymerise
c. DNA is replicated
d. Cytokinesis happens

Answer 29

C

Question 30

The cytoskeleton has which of the following cellular tasks?

i) It connects all parts of the cell
ii) It organises polysomes during translation
iii) It supports cellular motility
iv) It helps spatial organisation of the cell
v) It stores lipids

Select one:

a. i, ii and v
b. iii, iv and v
c. i, ii and iii
d. i, iii and iv

Answer 30

D

Question 31

Which of the following proteins form a vesicle protein-coat?

i) Clathrin
ii) Kinesin-1
iii) COPI
iv) COPII
v) Dynein

Select one:

a. ii and iv
b. iii, iv and v
c. i, ii, iii and iv
d. i, iii, and iv

Answer 31

D

Question 32

A polysome

Select one:

a. is a complex of many ribosomes that simultaneously translate a single mRNA
b. is a single ribosome translating multiple mRNAs at the same time
c. is a ribosome consisting of numerous large subunits
d. is a complex of RNA-polymerase and bacterial ribosomes

Answer 32

A

Question 33

Lipid droplets are fat storage compartments that are

Select one:

a. taken up by phagocytosis
b. generated at the smooth ER
c. required for the addition of oligosaccharide chains to glycoproteins
d. made in the cytoplasm

Answer 33

B

Question 34

A cellular compartment

i) is an organelle
ii) performs a specific cellular function
iii) is surrounded by a membrane
iv) is secreted into the extracellular space
v) is typical of eukaryotic cells

Select one:

a. i and iv
b. only v
c. only iii and v
d. i, ii, iii and v

Answer 34

D

Question 35

Which statement(s) hold true for the nuclear lamina of animal cells?

i) It contains nuclear lamins
ii) It helps the cell to organise the nucleus
iii) It disassembles during mitosis
iv) It is formed between the two lipid bi-layers of the nuclear envelope

Select one:

a. i, ii, iii
b. Only iii
c. i, iii and iv
d. all of them

Answer 35

A

Question 36

Which of the following applies to the Golgi apparatus?

Select one:

a. It is surrounded by a double membrane
b. It consists of membrane stacks
c. It has cristae
d. It is the major site of transcription

Answer 36

B

Question 37

Bacteria, archaea, fungi, plant, protists and animal cells have in common:

Select one:

a. a cell wall
b. a plasma membrane
c. chloroplasts
d. mitochondria

Answer 37

B

Question 38

Protein kinases have which of the following features?

i) They transfer a phosphate group onto proteins
ii) They can be phosphorylated themselves
iii) They oppose the dephosphorylating activity of phosphatases
iv) They control numerous cellular processes and are very abundant in the human genome
v) They can integrate information from several pathways

Select one:

a. iv and ii
b. i, ii and iii
c. only i and ii
d. all of them

Answer 38

D

Question 39

Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a method that

Select one:

a. determines the protein content of cells
b. visualises cellular dynamics
c. requires fixation of the cells
d. investigates the interaction of proteins

Answer 39

B

Question 40

In order to maximise the activity of its degradative hydrolases, the interior of a lysosome is kept at which approximate pH?

Select one:

a. pH 9
b. pH 7
c. pH 5
d. pH 3

Answer 40

C

Question 41

Which of the following statements applies to the Golgi apparatus?

a) it is surrounded by a double membrane
b) it contains a membrane stack
c) it has cristae
d) it is the site of transcription

Answer 41

B

Question 42

The cytoplasm of a cell typically contains which of the following?

i) Proteins
ii) DNA molecules
iii) RNAs
iv) Ribosomes
v) Chromatin

Select one:

a) i, iii and iv
b) i and ii
c) v and ii
d) iv and ii

Answer 42

A

Question 43

Which of the following types of junction in epithelial cells are attached to the actin cytoskeleton?

a) Tight junctions
b) Adherens junctions
c) Gap junctions
d) Desmosomes

Answer 43

A

Question 44

Ribosomes consist of which of the following?

i) Proteins
ii) tRNA
iii) Ribosomal rRNA
iv) Chromatin

Select one:

a) i, ii,iii
b) i, iii
c) i,iv
d) iii

Answer 44

B

Question 45

Which of the following proteins transport substances across membranes using ATP?

i) Receptors
ii) Channels [ion channels]
iii) Pumps
iv) Cotransporters
v) Enzymes

Select one:

a) i and v
b) ii, iii and iv
c) all of the above
d) iii and iv

Answer 45

D

Question 46

Which statements about cholesterol are true?

i) Cholesterol increases the fluidity of the plasma membrane [at high temperature]
ii) Cholesterol has a hydrophilic -OH group.
iii) Cholesterol acts as a temperature buffer.
iv) Sex hormones are derived from cholesterol.

Select one:

a) ii, iv
b) i,ii,iii,iv
c) ii,iii,iv
d) iii, iv

Answer 46

C

Question 47

During translation, the GTP attached to elongation factor G is hydrolysed to GDP. Why is elongation factor G important in translation?

a) G is a specialized tRNA that responds to stop codons and terminates a peptide sequence, thus ending translation.
b) G enables the small subunit of the ribosome to move forward along the mRNA strand.
c) G is essential in untangling the mRNA strand to allow for the ribosome to move along the strand efficiently.
d) G is bound to tRNA but is released when tRNA and mRNA bind, this allows for a peptide bond to form between the associated amino acids.

Answer 47

B

Question 48

Which molecules can diffuse passively through the plasma membrane?

i) O2, CO2
ii) proteins
iii) lipids
iv) small non polar molecules

Select on:

a) iii, iv
b) i, iii, iv
c) ii
d) iv

Answer 48

B

Question 49

Which of the following functions are associated with the smooth ER?

1. Calcium storage
2. synthesis of lipids
3. Detoxification
4. Metabolism of carbohydrates

Select one:
A. 1 and 2 only 
B. 3 and 4 only 
C. 2 only
D. All of the above

Answer 49

D

Question 50

Which of the following statements are true with regards to the nuclear lamina?

i. The nuclear lamina is made of intermediate filaments found only in animals
ii. The nuclear lamina provides strength against damage by shear force
iii. Nuclear pores are found in clusters in the nuclear lamina
iv. The nuclear lamina disassembles into vesicles during open mitosis
v. The lamins (proteins) are dephosphorylated by a phosphatase during open mitosis

Select one:

a. i, ii, iii, v
b. i, ii, iv
c. all of the above
d. ii, iv, v

Answer 50

B

Question 51

Which of the following are plant specific myosins? 
A. Myosin 1, 2, 12
B. Myosin 5, 6, 7
C. Myosin 12, 15, 16
D. Myosin 8, 11, 13

Answer 51

D