A 35-year-old woman presents with weight loss, heat intolerance, and palpitations. Physical exam reveals a goiter and exophthalmos. Thyroid function tests confirm hyperthyroidism due to Graves’ Disease, driving excessive metabolic activity. How does hyperthyroidism in Graves’ Disease influence Gibbs free-energy change (ΔG) in cellular processes?

 A 2-month-old infant presents with poor feeding, lethargy, and seizures. Lab results show hypoglycemia and elevated lactate levels. Genetic testing confirms Glycogen Storage Disease Type I (Von Gierke Disease), caused by a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase. How does the absence of glucose-6-phosphatase in Von Gierke Disease affect the Gibbs free-energy change (ΔG) of glycogen breakdown?

A 25-year-old sprinter undergoes intense exercise, rapidly consuming adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for energy. The hydrolysis of ATP into adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) is an example of which type of reaction?

A patient undergoing surgery is administered succinylcholine, a neuromuscular blocking agent that binds to nicotinic receptors at the neuromuscular junction, causing depolarization and paralysis. The breakdown of succinylcholine is catalyzed by plasma cholinesterase, an enzyme that lowers the activation energy of the reaction. Which of the following best describes how enzymes influence reaction thermodynamics?

A 60-year-old man with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus presents with fatigue, weight loss, and excessive thirst. Blood tests reveal hyperglycemia and ketosis. The physician explains that his body is breaking down fats to produce ketones for energy because glucose is not being utilized efficiently. This metabolic switch relies on biochemical reactions that must be thermodynamically favorable to proceed. Which of the following best describes a reaction that occurs spontaneously in metabolism?

A 45-year-old patient with hepatitis C is enrolled in a clinical trial where ribozymes are delivered via nanoparticles to target viral RNA. The team discusses challenges in ensuring the ribozymes reach their intracellular target intact.What is a major challenge in using ribozymes therapeutically, as highlighted in this hepatitis C trial?

A 22-year-old patient with a rare genetic disorder has a mutation causing aberrant pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing, leading to a dysfunctional protein. Scientists propose using a ribozyme to correct the splicing process during RNA maturation.Which natural ribozyme example is most directly involved in RNA splicing processes?

A 35-year-old patient is diagnosed with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Researchers are exploring a novel therapy using ribozymes to target and cleave the viral RNA, preventing replication. The medical team explains this approach to you during rounds. What is the primary mechanism by which ribozymes could therapeutically target HIV RNA?

A medical student is reviewing the function of ribozymes and comes across the fact that the ribosome’s core enzymatic activity is carried out by RNA rather than protein. Which of the following best describes the function of this ribozyme?

A scientist is studying an RNA molecule that catalyzes its own splicing by removing itself from a precursor RNA transcript without the help of protein enzymes. This RNA is most likely classified as: