Protein Engineering Questions and Answers for Aptitude test on “Applications – Engineering Therapeutic Hormone : Insulin”.
1. Which of the following is the main reason for type 2 diabetes?
A. Insulin overproduction
B. Insulin deficiency
C. Insulin destruction
D. Insulin resistance
Answer: D
Clarification: Insulin resistance is the main reason for type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes (also known as adult-onset diabetes) is a lifelong disease in which the body becomes resistant to insulin. Insulin overproduction, Insulin deficiency, or Insulin destruction are not the main reasons for type 2 diabetes.
2. Which of the following is not true for a healthy person?
A. The pancreas secretes insulin continuously
B. Transient increase in insulin secretion
C. Beta cells secrete insulin
D. Insulin is only secreted after a meal
Answer: D
Clarification: Healthy humans secrete insulin continuously at a low basal level, with rapid but transient increases triggered by elevated blood glucose concentrations. Insulin is secreted by beta cells of islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Hence, the statement “Insulin is only secreted after a meal” is not true for a healthy person.
3. Which of the following consists of a 21 amino acid A-chain linked to a 30 amino acid B chain via two interchain disulfide linkages?
A. Somatostatin
B. Glucagon
C. Hemoglobin
D. Insulin
Answer: D
Clarification: Insulin consists of a 21 amino acid A-chain linked to a 30 amino acid B chain via two interchain disulfide linkages. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows the body to use glucose from the blood. Somatostatin, glucagon, or hemoglobin do not consist of a 21 amino acid A-chain linked to a 30 amino acid B chain via two interchain disulfide linkages.
4. Which of the following protein has a structure as depicted in the figure below?
A. Glucagon
B. Hemoglobin
C. Insulin
D. Proinsulin
Answer: D
Clarification: The structure depicted in the above figure is of proinsulin. Insulin is composed of two peptide chains referred to as the A chain and B chain, linked together by two disulfide bonds. An additional disulfide bond is formed within the A chain. Proinsulin is a single polypeptide chain precursor of insulin consisting of A chain, B chain, and C chain.
5. At physiological concentrations (10-10 M), insulin molecules exist in oligomeric form.
A. True
B. False
Answer: B
Clarification: The above statement is false. At physiological concentrations (10-10 M), insulin molecules exist in monomeric form. However, when present at therapeutic dose concentrations (10-3 M) individual insulin molecules dimerize, with subsequent oligomerization of three dimers to form a hexamer, often co-ordinated with zinc ions.
6. A combination of fast-acting and slow-acting insulin must usually be administered to diabetics to mimic the natural state.
A. False
B. True
Answer: B
Clarification: The above statement is true. A combination of fast-acting and slow-acting insulin must usually be administered to diabetics to mimic the natural state. Healthy humans secrete insulin continuously at a low basal level, with rapid but transient increases in insulin secretion triggered by elevated blood glucose concentrations.
7. Which of the following cells are destroyed in type 1 diabetes?
A. Immune cells
B. Gamma cell
C. Alpha cells
D. Beta cells
Answer: D
Clarification: In type 1 diabetes, the immune cells of the body destroy insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in the pancreas. This condition is usually diagnosed in children and young people; therefore, it was called juvenile diabetes. Immune cells, alpha cells, and gamma cells are not destroyed in type 1 diabetes.
8. Which of the following amino acid cannot be inserted to minimize the monomer interactions?
A. Glutamate
B. Arginine
C. Lysine
D. Proline
