20 Protein Quiz Questions and Answers

Proteins are essential macromolecules composed of long chains of amino acids, serving as the building blocks of life. They perform a wide array of functions in the body, including acting as enzymes to catalyze biochemical reactions, providing structural support in muscles and tissues, transporting molecules like oxygen in the blood, and supporting immune responses as antibodies. Composed of 20 different amino acids, proteins vary in shape and size, allowing them to carry out specific roles based on their unique three-dimensional structures. In nutrition, proteins are vital for growth, repair, and maintenance, and can be sourced from animal products like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy, as well as plant-based foods such as beans, lentils, nuts, and grains. A balanced intake is crucial for overall health, energy production, and preventing deficiencies.

Table of contents

Part 1: OnlineExamMaker – Generate and share protein quiz with AI automatically

The quickest way to assess the protein knowledge of candidates is using an AI assessment platform like OnlineExamMaker. With OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator, you are able to input content—like text, documents, or topics—and then automatically generate questions in various formats (multiple-choice, true/false, short answer). Its AI Exam Grader can automatically grade the exam and generate insightful reports after your candidate submit the assessment.

What you will like:
● Create a question pool through the question bank and specify how many questions you want to be randomly selected among these questions.
● Allow the quiz taker to answer by uploading video or a Word document, adding an image, and recording an audio file.
● Display the feedback for correct or incorrect answers instantly after a question is answered.
● Create a lead generation form to collect an exam taker’s information, such as email, mobile phone, work title, company profile and so on.

Automatically generate questions using AI

Generate questions for any topic
100% free forever

Part 2: 20 protein quiz questions & answers

  or  

Question 1:
What is the primary structure of a protein?
A) The sequence of amino acids
B) The alpha helix and beta sheet formations
C) The three-dimensional folding
D) The association of multiple polypeptide chains

Answer: A
Explanation: The primary structure refers to the linear sequence of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, which determines the protein’s unique identity and function.

Question 2:
Which level of protein structure involves hydrogen bonding between the backbone atoms?
A) Primary structure
B) Secondary structure
C) Tertiary structure
D) Quaternary structure

Answer: B
Explanation: Secondary structure is stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the carbonyl oxygen and amino hydrogen of the polypeptide backbone, forming structures like alpha helices and beta sheets.

Question 3:
What type of bond stabilizes the tertiary structure of a protein?
A) Peptide bonds
B) Hydrogen bonds
C) Disulfide bonds
D) Ionic bonds

Answer: C
Explanation: Disulfide bonds, formed between cysteine residues, are crucial for stabilizing the three-dimensional folding of the tertiary structure.

Question 4:
Which of the following is an example of a fibrous protein?
A) Hemoglobin
B) Collagen
C) Insulin
D) Enzymes like amylase

Answer: B
Explanation: Collagen is a fibrous protein that provides structural support in connective tissues, characterized by its elongated, rope-like structure.

Question 5:
What is the role of chaperone proteins?
A) To catalyze chemical reactions
B) To assist in the proper folding of other proteins
C) To transport oxygen in the blood
D) To store genetic information

Answer: B
Explanation: Chaperone proteins help prevent misfolding and aggregation of other proteins by guiding their correct folding process.

Question 6:
Which amino acid is responsible for forming disulfide bonds in proteins?
A) Glycine
B) Cysteine
C) Alanine
D) Valine

Answer: B
Explanation: Cysteine contains a thiol group that can form disulfide bonds with another cysteine, stabilizing protein structures.

Question 7:
What process denatures a protein?
A) Addition of more amino acids
B) Exposure to extreme pH or temperature
C) Phosphorylation
D) Glycosylation

Answer: B
Explanation: Denaturation occurs when proteins lose their three-dimensional structure due to factors like high heat or extreme pH, disrupting non-covalent interactions.

Question 8:
Which of the following is a function of proteins?
A) Energy storage
B) Catalyzing metabolic reactions
C) Storing genetic information
D) Immediate energy source

Answer: B
Explanation: Proteins, particularly enzymes, act as biological catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in metabolic processes.

Question 9:
What is the quaternary structure of a protein?
A) The arrangement of atoms in a single polypeptide chain
B) The interaction of multiple polypeptide chains
C) The hydrogen bonding in secondary structures
D) The sequence of amino acids

Answer: B
Explanation: Quaternary structure involves the assembly and interaction of two or more polypeptide chains to form a functional protein complex.

Question 10:
Which technique is used to separate proteins based on their size?
A) Gel electrophoresis
B) X-ray crystallography
C) Mass spectrometry
D) Chromatography

Answer: A
Explanation: Gel electrophoresis separates proteins by size as they migrate through a gel matrix under an electric field.

Question 11:
What is the genetic code’s role in protein synthesis?
A) It determines the sequence of nucleotides in DNA
B) It specifies the sequence of amino acids in a protein
C) It folds the protein into its tertiary structure
D) It transports amino acids to the ribosome

Answer: B
Explanation: The genetic code translates the nucleotide sequence of mRNA into the specific sequence of amino acids during protein synthesis.

Question 12:
Which organelle is primarily responsible for protein synthesis?
A) Nucleus
B) Mitochondria
C) Ribosomes
D) Endoplasmic reticulum

Answer: C
Explanation: Ribosomes are the cellular structures where translation occurs, linking amino acids to form proteins based on mRNA templates.

Question 13:
What is a prosthetic group in proteins?
A) A non-protein molecule bound to a protein that aids function
B) An additional amino acid chain
C) A hydrogen bond in secondary structure
D) A peptide bond

Answer: A
Explanation: Prosthetic groups, such as heme in hemoglobin, are non-protein components that are essential for the protein’s biological activity.

Question 14:
How do enzymes increase the rate of reactions?
A) By changing the equilibrium of the reaction
B) By lowering the activation energy
C) By increasing the temperature
D) By adding more substrates

Answer: B
Explanation: Enzymes speed up reactions by stabilizing the transition state and lowering the energy barrier required for the reaction to proceed.

Question 15:
Which protein is involved in muscle contraction?
A) Keratin
B) Actin
C) Collagen
D) Insulin

Answer: B
Explanation: Actin, along with myosin, forms the contractile apparatus in muscle cells, enabling movement and contraction.

Question 16:
What happens during protein hydrolysis?
A) Proteins are synthesized from amino acids
B) Proteins are broken down into amino acids
C) Proteins are folded into their active form
D) Proteins are denatured by heat

Answer: B
Explanation: Hydrolysis breaks peptide bonds in proteins using water, resulting in the release of individual amino acids.

Question 17:
Which factor can lead to protein misfolding?
A) Optimal pH and temperature
B) Genetic mutations in the DNA sequence
C) Proper chaperone assistance
D) Balanced ionic environment

Answer: B
Explanation: Genetic mutations can alter the amino acid sequence, leading to incorrect folding and potential loss of function or disease.

Question 18:
What is the isoelectric point of a protein?
A) The pH at which the protein is most active
B) The pH at which the protein has no net charge
C) The temperature at which the protein denatures
D) The concentration of amino acids in the protein

Answer: B
Explanation: At the isoelectric point, the protein’s positive and negative charges balance out, resulting in zero net electrical charge.

Question 19:
Which bond is not involved in maintaining protein structure?
A) Hydrogen bonds
B) Covalent bonds
C) Phosphodiester bonds
D) Ionic bonds

Answer: C
Explanation: Phosphodiester bonds are found in nucleic acids like DNA, not in proteins, which rely on peptide, hydrogen, ionic, and disulfide bonds.

Question 20:
What is the end product of transcription in protein synthesis?
A) A protein
B) mRNA
C) tRNA
D) Amino acids

Answer: B
Explanation: Transcription produces messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template, which is then used in translation to synthesize proteins.

  or  

Part 3: Try OnlineExamMaker AI Question Generator to create quiz questions

Automatically generate questions using AI

Generate questions for any topic
100% free forever