1,699 Answered Questions for the topic biochemistry

Biochemistry Rna Molecular Biology

07/02/19

What stops messenger RNA from binding to itself?
Since mRNA is single-stranded, and (mostly) floats freely within the cytosol, what stops it from folding onto itself (like DNA) and preventing transcription?
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Biochemistry Amino Acids Proteins

07/02/19

Why is glycine considered a nonpolar amino acid but a polar molecule?
Glycine has a dipole moment, so why is it considered a nonpolar amino acid when discussing its occurrence in proteins?Also, is the backbone of a protein nonpolar?
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07/01/19

What exactly happens if during translation, an amino acid is not present?
Lets say that the cell wants to make a particular protein. Transcription of the appropriate gene is done and the mRNA is made. mRNA attaches to the ribosome and the translation is initiated in a... more
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07/01/19

Why does high pH result in the denaturation of DNA?
In the Southern blot method, for example, a solution of NaOH is used to denature the DNA in the sample. I find this counterintuitive since I expected that $\ ext{Na}^+$ cations would neutralize... more
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06/30/19

Why doesn't surgical steel cause inflammation?
It seems some very specific alloys like implant surgical steel and titanium don't cause inflammation in the human body, but when I asked my doctor about it, they simply said "it just has some... more
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06/28/19

why is AUG the initiation codon?
Is there any reason why AUG is the initiation codon ?Why is there a need for an initiation codon ? Can't translation start with different codons?
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06/27/19

Is it possible to synthesize chiral version of an organism (incompatible with our pathogens)?
In theory, it should be possible to synthesize chiral (mirror image) version of some organism: with all molecules replaced with their enantiomers, e.g. L-sugars in place of our D-sugars.Direct... more
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Biochemistry Carbon Dioxide Blood Ph

06/27/19

The Bohr Shift Changes the Affinity of Hemoglobin for Oxygen
What is the Bohr Shift and why is it significant in restoring pH levels in the blood to normal?
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06/26/19

What are the roles of guanidine-HCl and ethanol in binding of DNA to silica?
I'm trying to understand how exactly the binding to silica gel (in kits) step works and I cannot find any papers which provide an explanation of the physics or chemistry; especially on the way that... more
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Biochemistry Nutrition

06/25/19

Is cyanocobalamin toxic?
I see that cyanocobalamin is not naturally occurring, and is synthesized in vivo to methylcobalamin. As part of the synthetic pathway, cyanide is broken off. All opinions I can find are that this... more
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06/25/19

How does CO₂ concentration affect photosynthesis?
I have heard the theory that with the increase of CO<sub>2</sub> in the air, the speed of the photosynthesis would increase, thereby limiting the increase of CO<sub>2</sub>... more
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06/25/19

Is it known how the first viruses formed?
[The oldest known virus](http://www.livescience.com/16015-oldest-viruses-insects.html) is known to have infected prehistoric insects 300 million years ago. A virus is basically a parasitic strand... more
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Biochemistry Breathing Respiration

06/24/19

What are the sources of molecular hydrogen in human breath?
In the BBC News article [CES 2019: Tech preview of the expo's hottest new gadgets](https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-46715334) there is a new product that one can use to measure the hydrogen in... more
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Biochemistry Enzymes

06/24/19

Why is it often the case that an enzyme is favorable only towards one direction of a reaction and not both directions?
In class when we're studying enzymes like amylase or protease it only works well when you're using it to break down compounds like polysaccharides. I'm just curious but why is it not possible for... more
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06/24/19

Photosynthesis: What Powers the Splitting of Water?
The splitting of water is an endergonic (non-spontaneous) reaction, and thus would require energy (chemical work to be done) in order to happen.In Photosystem II, an enzyme catalyzes this... more
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Biochemistry Enzymes

06/24/19

Is there an enzyme for the transformation of the hydroxyl group?
I would like to know, is there any enzyme which does the transformation of hydroxyl group to any other functional group using the enzyme. The substrate is aromatic hydroxyl group. Product should... more
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Biochemistry

06/24/19

In biosynthesis of cysteine and methionine, where does the sulfur come from?
Methionine and Cysteine are the two amino acids containing sulfur. [According to wikipedia, cysteine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cysteine) is built from methionine. However, the wikipedia also... more
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06/24/19

How do centrioles auto-locate to opposite sides of cell during mitosis?
I realize that centrioles are made of 9 triplets of microtubulin wound together with a hollow core, and that they are responsible for the configuration of the spindle during mitosis. The spindle... more
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Biochemistry Entomology

06/23/19

Why arent mosquitoes found near neem trees?
I read an article yesterday that wherever neem trees or spices are cultivated mosquitoes are not seen there. So why arent mosquitoes seen near these places (neem trees , spices, etc).What is it... more
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Biochemistry Terminology

06/23/19

What is the difference between "Bisphosphate" and "Diphosphate" in biochemistry?
I have often found bisphosphate compounds ( e.g. RuBP, RuBisCO, 2,3-BPGA etc.) and diphosphate compounds (e.g. ADP, GDP etc.) in biochemistry. They are commonly seen and are important compounds in... more
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Biochemistry Biology Mcat Microbiology

06/23/19

In Glycolysis, where is Magnesium used as a cofactor? Why is it used?

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06/21/19

What do sphingolipids do in humans?
I want to know the significance of sphingolipids in human. I have learnt that sphingomyelin is the most significant type of sphingolipid in human. Also that the sphingomyelin serves as a structural... more
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06/21/19

Using ion-exchange chromatography to purify DNA from a cell extract - Is DNA more negatively charged then RNA?
When applying this method we have a glass or plastic column of resin which is positively charged. Then we pour cell extract into the column in order to capture the negatively charged particles... more
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06/20/19

Significance of lipids in biological membranes...?
Membranes are specifically designed by lipids to maintain internal hydrophilic environment in narrow range.There are hydrophobic amino acids among naturally occurring 20 amino acids and as well as... more
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06/20/19

What is the relationship between the light and dark reactions of photosynthesis?
My main concern is why are the dark reactions (those that produce hexose) needed? As far as I understand, the sole purpose of photosynthesis is to synthesize carbohydrates, which are only used for... more
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