PHYSIOLOGY

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

CHOOSE THE MOST CORRECT OPTION ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES

1. Glycolytic pathway regulation involves

a. Allosteric stimulation by ADP
b. Allosteric inhibition by ATP
c. Feedback, or product, inhibition by ATP
d. All of the above

Answer: d. All of the above

Why: Glycolysis is regulated by multiple mechanisms:

• ADP stimulates glycolysis when energy is low.

• ATP allosterically inhibits key enzymes like phosphofructokinase (PFK).

• ATP also acts as a product inhibitor.

All three statements are correct.

2. Why does the glycolytic pathway continue in the direction of glucose catabolism? There are
essentially three irreversible reactions that act as the driving force for the pathway.
a. High levels of ATP keep the pathway going in a forward direction
b. The enzymes of glycolysis only function in one direction
c. Glycolysis occurs in either direction

Answer: (Missing option; likely “The three irreversible reactions drive it forward”)
Why: The three irreversible steps (catalyzed by hexokinase, PFK, and pyruvate kinase) ensure
net flux toward pyruvate.

3. The released energy obtained by oxidation of glucose is stored as

a. A concentration gradient across a membrane
b. ADP
c. ATP
d. NAD⁺

Answer: c. ATP
Why: ATP is the primary energy currency. NADH also stores energy, but the best direct answer
here is ATP.

4. A kinase is an enzyme that

a. Removes phosphate groups of substrates
b. Uses ATP to add a phosphate group to the substrate
c. Uses NADH to change the oxidation state of the substrate
d. Removes water from a double bond

Answer: b. Uses ATP to add a phosphate group to the substrate

Why: Kinases transfer phosphate from ATP to substrates (phosphorylation).

5. For every one molecule of sugar glucose which is oxidized, how many pyruvate are
produced?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4

Answer: b. 2
Why: Glycolysis converts 1 glucose → 2 pyruvate molecules.

6. The enzymes of glycolysis in a eukaryotic cell are located in the

a. Intermembrane space
b. Plasma membrane
c. Cytosol
d. Mitochondrial matrix

Answer: c. Cytosol
Why: Glycolysis occurs entirely in the cytoplasm.
7. Which of the following is not true of glycolysis?
a. ADP is phosphorylated to ATP via substrate-level phosphorylation
b. The pathway does not require oxygen
c. The pathway oxidizes two moles of NAD⁺ to NADH for each mole of glucose that enters
d. The pathway requires two moles of ATP to get started for each mole of glucose

Answer: c. The pathway oxidizes two moles of NAD⁺ to NADH for each mole of glucose that
enters
Why: Glycolysis reduces NAD⁺ to NADH (2 NADH produced per glucose), not oxidizes NAD⁺.

8. In glycolysis, ATP is formed by the transfer of a high-energy phosphate from 1,3-

bisphosphoglycerate to ADP. No such high-energy phosphate donor has ever been isolated in
mitochondria because
a. The techniques to isolate the phosphate donor are not refined enough
b. No such protein exists
c. The high-energy phosphate donor is very short-lived and difficult to isolate
d. None of the above

Answer: c. The high-energy phosphate donor is very short-lived and difficult to isolate
Why: In mitochondria, ATP synthesis occurs via oxidative phosphorylation using proton
gradients, not via isolatable high-energy phosphate intermediates like in substrate-level
phosphorylation.

9. ATP is from which general category of molecules?

a. Polysaccharides
b. Nucleotides
c. Amino acids

Answer: b. Nucleotides
Why: ATP is a nucleoside triphosphate.

10. The glycolytic pathway (glucose → 2 pyruvate) is found

a. In all living organisms
b. Present in animals excluding parasites
c. Only in eukaryotes
d. Only in yeast
Answer: a. In all living organisms
Why: Glycolysis is a universal metabolic pathway.

11. Which of the following is not a mechanism for regulation of amphibolic pathways?
a. Allosteric control of the enzyme’s activity
b. Covalent modification of the enzyme
c. Genetic control of the enzyme concentration
d. Compartmentalization between adjacent active sites

Answer: d. Compartmentalization between adjacent active sites

Why: Compartmentalization refers to separating pathways in different organelles, not a direct
regulatory mechanism of enzyme activity.

12. Phosphofructokinase, the major flux-controlling enzyme of glycolysis, is allosterically

inhibited and activated respectively by
a. ATP and F-2,6-BP
b. AMP and Pi
c. ATP and ADP
d. Citrate and ATP

Answer: a. ATP and F-2,6-BP

Why: PFK-1 is inhibited by ATP and activated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate.

13. Which of the following regulates glycolysis steps?

A. Phosphofructokinase
B. Hexokinase
C. Pyruvate kinase
D. All of these

Answer: D. All of these

Why: These are the three key regulated enzymes in glycolysis.

14. During glycolysis, the major energy-generating step involves:

a. Pyruvate kinase
b. Phosphoglycerate kinase
c. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
d. Phosphofructokinase

Answer: b. Phosphoglycerate kinase

Why: Phosphoglycerate kinase performs the first substrate-level phosphorylation producing
ATP.

15. Glycogen has:

a. α-1,4 linkage
b. α-1,6 linkages
c. α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages
d. α-1,4 and β-1,6 linkage

Answer: c. α-1,4 and α-1,6 linkages

Why: Glycogen is a branched polymer with α-1,4 links and α-1,6 branches.

16. What does the following equation represent? α-D Glucose + H₂O → +52.5° → +19.0 β-D
glucose
a. Stereoisomerism
b. Mutarotation
c. Optical isomerism
d. Epimerization

Answer: b. Mutarotation
Why: Mutarotation is the interconversion between α and β anomers in solution.

17. Galactose and Glucose are:

a. Epimers
b. Anomers
c. Aldose-ketose isomers
d. Ketose-Aldose isomers

Answer: a. Epimers
Why: They differ at C-4 (epimers).
18. α-D Glucose and β-D glucose are:
a. Epimers
b. Keto-Aldose Isomers
c. Anomers
d. Optical Isomers

Answer: c. Anomers
Why: They differ only at the anomeric carbon (C-1).

19. A polysaccharide formed by β1–4 glycosidic linkages:

a. Starch
b. Dextrin
c. Glycogen
d. Cellulose

Answer: d. Cellulose
Why: Cellulose is β1–4 linked glucose polymer.

20. A disaccharide produced on hydrolysis of starch is called:

a. Sucrose
b. Lactose
c. Maltose
d. Trehalose

Answer: c. Maltose
Why: Starch hydrolysis yields maltose.

21. The typical cyclical structure of Glucose is α and β-D:

a. Glucopyranose
b. Glucoside
c. Glucofuranose
d. Glycolamine

Answer: a. Glucopyranose
Why: Glucose typically forms a 6-membered pyranose ring.
22. Which of the following molecules is a carbohydrate?
a. C₂H₂O₃N
b. C₁₂H₆O₇
c. C₄H₈O₈
d. C₂₅H₆₀O₇

Answer: c. C₄H₈O₈
Why: Carbohydrates have the general formula (CH₂O)ₙ; C₄H₈O₈ fits.

23. Which of the following monosaccharides is not an aldose?

a. Ribose
b. Fructose
c. Glucose
d. Glyceraldehyde

Answer: b. Fructose
Why: Fructose is a ketose.

24. Which of following is an anomeric pair?

a. D glucose and L-glucose
b. α-D glucose and β-D-glucose
c. D glucose and D-fructose
d. α-D glucose and β-L-glucose

Answer: b. α-D glucose and β-D-glucose

Why: Anomers differ at C-1 in cyclic form.

25. From the abbreviated name of the compound Gal(β1→4)Glc, we know that:
a. The glucose residue is the β anomer
b. The galactose residue is at the non-reducing end
c. C-4 of glucose is joined to C-1 of galactose by a glycosidic bond
d. The compound is in its furanose form

Answer: b. The galactose residue is at the non-reducing end

Why: In Gal(β1→4)Glc, galactose is linked via its C-1 to glucose’s C-4, so galactose is at the
reducing end? Wait—actually, the reducing end is glucose because its anomeric carbon is free.
Let's check: Gal(β1→4)Glc means galactose is linked to glucose at C-4, so glucose’s anomeric
carbon is free → glucose is reducing end, galactose is non-reducing. So b is correct.

26. What carbohydrate(s) is/are reactant(s) in glycolysis?

a. Neither Glucose or Sucrose directly participate in glycolysis
b. Glucose and Sucrose
c. Glucose only
d. Sucrose only

Answer: c. Glucose only

Why: Glycolysis starts with glucose. Sucrose must be hydrolyzed first.

27. In which organisms does glycolysis occur?

a. Aerobic organisms only
b. Both aerobic and anaerobic organisms
c. Anaerobic organisms only
d. Neither aerobic or anaerobic organisms

Answer: b. Both aerobic and anaerobic organisms

Why: Glycolysis is universal.

28. A black man entered his physician’s office complaining of bloating and diarrhea…
following an ice cream eating competition… similar episode following ingestion of chocolate.
The clinical picture is most likely due to deficiency in
a. Isomaltase
b. Lactase
c. Sucrase
d. Amylase

Answer: b. Lactase
Why: Ice cream and chocolate contain lactose; symptoms suggest lactose intolerance.

29. Compared with the resting state, vigorously contracting muscle shows:
a. A decreased NADH/NAD⁺ ratio
b. A decreased concentration of AMP
c. Decreased levels of Fructose 2,6–Bisphosphate
d. An increased conversion of Pyruvate to lactate

Answer: d. An increased conversion of Pyruvate to lactate

Why: During intense exercise, muscles produce lactate via anaerobic glycolysis.

30. The reaction catalyzed by Phosphofructokinase

a. Is activated by high concentration of ATP and Citrate
b. Is not considered a regulated reaction in the glycolytic pathway
c. Is inhibited by Fructose 2,6–Bisphosphate
d. Uses Fructose 1-Phosphate as substrate

Answer: (None of the above exactly, but question may be miswritten)

Why: Actually PFK-1 is inhibited by ATP, activated by F-2,6-BP. Given options, none are fully
correct, but likely intended answer is c if they meant “activated by” not inhibited.

31. Which of the following statement concerning glycolysis is correct?

a. The conversion of glucose to lactate requires the presence of oxygen
b. The rate-limiting reactions are also the irreversible reactions
c. Fructose 2,6-Bisphosphate is a potent inhibitor of Phosphofructokinase
d. The conversion of glucose to lactate yields 2 ATP and 2 NADH

Answer: b. The rate-limiting reactions are also the irreversible reactions

Why: The three irreversible steps (HK, PFK, PK) are also the major regulated steps.

32. The cells dependent solely on glucose as an energy source are

a. muscle cells
b. kidney cells
c. liver cells
d. Brain cells

Answer: d. Brain cells

Why: The brain relies almost exclusively on glucose under normal conditions.

33. Glucagon and epinephrine

a. Inhibits gluconeogenesis and stimulates glycolysis
b. Stimulates gluconeogenesis and glycolysis
c. Stimulates gluconeogenesis and inhibits glycolysis
d. Inhibits gluconeogenesis and glycolysis

Answer: c. Stimulates gluconeogenesis and inhibits glycolysis

Why: These hormones raise blood glucose by promoting gluconeogenesis and inhibiting
glycolysis in liver.

34. How many total molecules of ATP are synthesised from ADP via glycolysis of a single
molecule of glucose?
a. 38
b. 36
c. 4
d. 2

Answer: c. 4 (gross), 2 (net)

Why: Glycolysis produces 4 ATP gross, but net gain is 2 ATP per glucose.

35. Digestion of carbohydrate is halted in

a. The large intestines
b. The duodenum
c. The stomach
d. The esophagus

Answer: c. The stomach

Why: Salivary amylase is inactivated by stomach acid; carbohydrate digestion pauses until
pancreas secretes amylase in duodenum.

36. Digestion of carbohydrate starts in the

a. Colon
b. Jejunum
c. Pancreas
d. Mouth

Answer: d. Mouth
Why: Salivary amylase begins starch digestion.
37. The following are aldoses except
a. Fructose
b. Galactose
c. Mannose
d. Glucose

Answer: a. Fructose
Why: Fructose is a ketose.

38. In the redox reaction: pyruvate + NADH + H⁺ → lactate + NAD⁺, which reactant is oxidized,
and which is reduced?
a. NADH is reduced and pyruvate is oxidized
b. Lactate is reduced and NAD⁺ is oxidized
c. Lactate is reduced and pyruvate is oxidized
d. Pyruvate is reduced and NADH is oxidized

Answer: d. Pyruvate is reduced and NADH is oxidized

Why: Pyruvate gains electrons (→ lactate); NADH loses electrons (→ NAD⁺).

39. The in vitro conversion of glucose to glucose-6-phosphate—glucose + Pi → G-6-P + H₂O—is

highly endergonic, though in the setting of glycolysis proceeds in a spontaneous and
irreversible fashion. How is this achieved?
a. Endergonic reactions are always spontaneous and irreversible
b. High concentrations of H₂O shift equilibrium to favor G-6-P formation
c. Through coupled ADP condensation reactions
d. Through coupled ATP hydrolysis reactions

Answer: d. Through coupled ATP hydrolysis reactions

Why: Hexokinase couples ATP hydrolysis to phosphorylate glucose, making the overall ΔG
negative.

40. Fructose is metabolized by

a. Fructose 1-phosphate pathway
b. Fructose 6-phosphate pathway
c. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate pathway
d. Both a. and b.
Answer: d. Both a. and b.
Why: Fructose enters glycolysis via fructokinase (→ F-1-P) or hexokinase (→ F-6-P).

41. The two compounds above are (no compounds shown, but likely α- and β-glucose)
a. Enantiomers
b. Isomers
c. Epimers
d. All of the above

Answer: c. Epimers (if they differ at one chiral center; likely anomers → subset of epimers)
Why: In given context, likely anomers = epimers at anomeric carbon.

42. Which of the following enzyme reactions is not irreversible in glycolysis

a. Hexokinase
b. Pyruvate Kinase
c. 3-Phosphoglycerate Kinase
d. Phosphofructokinase 1

Answer: c. 3-Phosphoglycerate Kinase

Why: This step is reversible; others are irreversible.

43. Which of the following statements is not true about aerobic glycolysis
a. The rate-limiting enzyme is phosphofructokinase 1 which converts fructose–6-phosphate to
fructose–1,5–bisphosphate
b. The pathway is inhibited allosterically by fructose–2,6–bisphosphate and AMP
c. The pathway takes place in the mitochondria of every cell
d. The pathway produces Pyruvate and NADH

Answer: c. The pathway takes place in the mitochondria of every cell

Why: Glycolysis occurs in cytosol, not mitochondria.

44. The first step in the glycolytic pathway in the liver

a. Is catalyzed by Glucokinase
b. Uses ATP and Glucose as substrate
c. Produces Glucose–6–phosphate and ADP
d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Why: In liver, glucokinase phosphorylates glucose using ATP.

45. Phosphoglycerate kinase functions in carbohydrate metabolism to produce ATP via:

a. Oxidative phosphorylation
b. Substrate level phosphorylation
c. Oxidative decarboxylation
d. Phosphorolysis

Answer: b. Substrate level phosphorylation

Why: It transfers a phosphate from 1,3-BPG to ADP.

46. The phosphofructokinase-2 enzyme that transfers a phosphate group to Fructose–6-

phosphate in glycolysis
a. Is active in the phosphorylated form
b. Catalyzes a reversible reaction
c. Produces fructose–2,6–bisphosphate as a product
d. Is the rate-limiting enzyme for glycolysis

Answer: c. Produces fructose–2,6–bisphosphate as a product

Why: PFK-2 makes F-2,6-BP, an activator of PFK-1.

47. The enzyme that produces NADH from a triose phosphate in the glycolytic pathway
a. Uses NAD⁺ and dihydroxyacetone phosphate as substrates
b. Produces 1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate and NADH
c. Catalyzes irreversible reaction
d. Is called 3-phosphoglycerate kinase

Answer: b. Produces 1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate and NADH

Why: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase makes 1,3-BPG and NADH.

48. The enzyme that catalyzes the first substrate-level phosphorylation in glycolysis
a. Produces 3-Phosphoglycerate as a product
b. Produces ADP from AMP
c. Is called glyceraldehyde–3–phosphate dehydrogenase
d. Is called phosphofructokinase
Answer: (Misworded; first substrate-level phosphorylation is by phosphoglycerate kinase, not
listed. Likely intended: a) Produces 3-Phosphoglycerate as product is wrong—it produces ATP
and 3-phosphoglycerate.)
Given options, none fit perfectly. But if they mean “phosphoglycerate kinase,” none match.

49. Choose the incorrect statement about the condition “When one molecule of glucose is
oxidized to two molecules of lactate during anaerobic glycolysis”
a. One molecule of ATP is used by phosphofructokinase-1 reaction
b. One molecule of ATP is used by either hexokinase or glucokinase reaction
c. Two molecules of ATP are produced by the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
reaction
d. Two molecules of ATP are produced by the pyruvate kinase reaction

Answer: c. Two molecules of ATP are produced by the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate

dehydrogenase reaction
Why: GAPDH produces NADH and 1,3-BPG, not ATP directly. ATP comes from phosphoglycerate
kinase and pyruvate kinase.

50. All of the following help to explain some cases of lactic acidosis except
a. High altitude
b. Heart failure
c. Not enough oxygen to satisfy the needs of oxidative phosphorylation
d. Congenital deficiency of liver lactate dehydrogenase

Answer: d. Congenital deficiency of liver lactate dehydrogenase

Why: LDH deficiency impairs lactate conversion to pyruvate, which could worsen lactic acidosis,
but it’s rare and not a typical cause. The others directly cause hypoxia → increased lactate.