User interface language: English | Español

Date November 2021 Marks available 1 Reference code 21N.1.HL.TZ1.6
Level Higher level Paper Paper 1 Time zone Time zone 1
Command term Question number 6 Adapted from N/A

Question

The image shows the structure of the protein hemoglobin

[Source: Hemoglobin molecule, Microbiology ID: e42bd376-624b-4c0f-972f-e0c57998e765@4.4 OpenStax Microbiology
https://cnx.org/contents/5CvTdmJL@4.4 and https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:OSC_Microbio_07_04_
hemoglobin.jpg Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License,
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0.]

 

What level of protein structure bonds the α and β chains together?

A. Primary

B. Secondary

C. Tertiary

D. Quaternary

Markscheme

D

Examiners report

This question proved surprisingly challenging. The linking together of polypeptides in a hemoglobin molecule is quaternary structure. A misreading of the question might have led to the answer ‘primary structure’ as that is the bonding together within polypeptides, but few candidates chose that answer and many more chose secondary or tertiary structure. Perhaps ‘binds’ rather than ‘bonds’ in the question would have helped avoid misunderstandings.

Syllabus sections

Core » Topic 2: Molecular biology » 2.4 Proteins
Show 37 related questions
Core » Topic 2: Molecular biology
Core

View options