Deck 14: Medicinal Chemistry

Question 1

Organic chemicals are so suitable for making drugs because ________.

A)our bodies are also made of organic chemicals
B)they can be produced fairly inexpensively from petroleum
C)of the vast diversity of structures they can form
D)they tend to dissolve well within the blood stream

Answer 1

of the vast diversity of structures they can form

Question 2

Which of the following is not a way to classify drugs?

A)by functional group
B)by biological effect
C)by origin
D)by safety
E)by social acceptability

Answer 2

by functional group

Question 3

Aspirin can cure a headache, but when you pop an aspirin tablet, how does the aspirin know to go to your head rather than your big toe?

A)The body is able to "pool" medicines around areas of increased neuronal activity.
B)The aspirin doesn't "know" to go to your head rather than your big toe. Rather, it gets distributed throughout your body.
C)The blood vessels within your head are generally more accessible than those within your big toe.
D)Most commercially available aspirins are compounded with buffer agents that direct the aspirin to regions of lower pH, which includes the cerebral hemispheres.

Answer 3

The aspirin doesn't "know" to go to your head rather than your big toe. Rather, it gets distributed throughout your body.

Question 4

Why are plants a good source of potential drug compounds?

A)Because there are thousands of different plants with thousands of different chemicals in them.
B)Because natural products are much more effective than synthetic products.
C)Because it is far cheaper to grow chemical compounds in a plant than it is to synthesize them in the laboratory.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 5

What is the main tenet of the lock-and-key model for drug activity?

A)There is a connection between molecular structure and its biological effect.
B)Only certain biological keys can unlock the potential of a drug.
C)The key to a drug's success is to keep it locked away from stomach acid.
D)The biological lock of an enzyme can be activated by using certain chemical keys.
E)all of the above

Question 6

When might two drugs taken together not exert a synergistic effect?

A)The synergistic effect is significant for any types of drugs taken together.
B)when one of the drugs is microencapsulated so that it is absorbed by the body at a later time
C)when the two drugs share no major or minor effects or side-effects
D)Sometimes a person's immune system is able to negate the effect of one drug, which allows the second drug to act alone.

Question 7

What are side effects?

A)any behavior of a drug that is not fulfilling its primary function
B)any behavior of a drug that is opposite of its primary function
C)It is a multiplying effect seen in a drug due to other interactions.
D)It is a beneficial aspect of a drug that has not been exploited.
E)none of the above

Question 8

A medicine is a drug that ________.

A)has therapeutic properties
B)kills bacteria
C)provides a euphoric effect
D)is isolated from a plant
E)none of the above

Question 9

How does chemotherapy work to fight a disease or infection?

A)It exploits subtle differences between the host organism and the disease organism.
B)It binds to receptor sites and boosts the immune system of the host organism.
C)It binds to the DNA of the host organism preventing the disease from spreading.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 10

Which of the following would be an example of a synergistic effect?

A)Antidepressants and cold medicine together can lead to seizures.
B)Aspirin reduces fever and thins the blood.
C)Penicillin kills infectious bacteria and beneficial bacteria in the intestine.
D)Caffeine suppresses the appetite and causes the jitters.
E)none of the above

Question 11

According to the lock-and-key model, in order for a drug to bind it must have the proper ________.

A)configuration
B)conformation
C)functional groups
D)all of the above

Question 12

Common drugs originate from ________.

A)natural products
B)chemical derivatives
C)laboratory synthesis
D)all of the above

Question 13

Drugs always ________.

A)have an effect on how the body functions
B)make you feel good
C)have therapeutic effects
D)are man-made
E)made from plants

Question 14

Which is better for you: a drug that is a natural product or one that is synthetic?

A)Whether a drug is good for you does not depend upon whether the drug occurs naturally or was synthesized in the laboratory.
B)Synthetic products are generally better for you because they lack impurities that could bring on side-effects.
C)Drugs extracted from natural products are invariably better for you.
D)Drugs extracted from natural products are better except in the case where the synthetic drug is a replica of the drug found in nature.

Question 15

Chemotherapy is used to treat ________.

A)cancer
B)bacterial infections
C)viral infections
D)all of the above

Question 16

Which of the following is untrue in the lock-and-key model?

A)The drug is tightly bound to the protein.
B)More than one drug can interact with same receptor site.
C)Drugs can interact differently with different receptors.
D)Drugs can interact strongly with more than one receptor site.
E)All of the above are true.

Question 17

Which of the following would not be part of the drug discovery process?

A)learning the exact shape of various receptor sites
B)changing an old drug a little and testing the new drug for activity
C)random testing of new compounds for drug activity
D)examining folklore for herbs and potions
E)All of the above are part of the process.

Question 18

What is the leading cause of drug overdoses?

A)accidental combination of incompatible drugs
B)recreational drug use
C)abuse of prescription pills
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 19

What role do receptor sites play in drug activity?

A)The receptor site is the location that a drug binds to, altering the function of a biomolecule.
B)The receptor site is the same as the active site in an enzyme.
C)The receptor site removes a drug from the blood stream, which limits negative side effects
D)The receptor site is unrelated to drug activity.
E)none of the above

Question 20

What advantages are there to synthesizing a naturally occurring medicine, such as Taxol, in the laboratory rather than isolating it from nature?

A)Synthesizing a natural product can be advantageous when the source of the natural product is rare and thus not readily available.
B)In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, the chemist is able to create closely related compounds that may have even greater medicinal properties.
C)Both A and B are true.
D)In synthesizing the natural product in the laboratory, a chemist can increase the concentration of the synthetic beyond that of natural product to insure maximum potency for good heath.

Question 21

Why do protease inhibitors work so well when used in conjunction with antiviral nucleosides?

A)This is an example of using the synergistic effect to our advantage.
B)The protease inhibitors facilitate the transport of antiviral nucleosides to the virus.
C)Protease inhibitors have the affect of "awakening" the virus thereby making the virus more susceptible to attack by the antiviral nucleoside.
D)all of the above

Question 22

What is the function of an antibiotic?

A)It prevents the growth of bacteria.
B)It prevents the growth of tumors.
C)It prevents the generation of viruses.
D)It punctures a bacterial cell wall.
E)all of the above

Question 23

Why do some antiviral agents exhibit anticancer activity?

A)There are some forms of cancer that are initiated by a viral infection.
B)Cancer cells tend to have a high metabolism to which viruses are attracted.
C)These antiviral agents upset genetic mechanisms, which can destroy cancer cells as well as viruses.
D)These antiviral agents bind to receptor sites that cancer cells need for absorbing nutrients.

Question 24

Where are antibiotics obtained?

A)molds
B)fungi
C)bacteria
D)all of the above
E)only A and B

Question 25

What is the role of a neuron in the body?

A)to transmit electrical impulses
B)to store sodium ions
C)to accept light signals and convert them into electrical signals
D)the neuron is a neutral particle with the same mass as a proton
E)to connect nerve cells together

Question 26

Why is it very difficult to fight viral infections?

A)A virus is not alive and therefore impossible to kill.
B)It is hard to destroy a virus without damaging the host.
C)The cell wall of a virus is too thick to penetrate.
D)The RNA and DNA of a virus is too different.
E)A and B

Question 27

What is the main difference between bacteria and humans that gives Sulfa drugs their antibacterial properties?

A)Human cells can readily absorb folic acid; bacteria cells cannot.
B)Bacteria cells can readily absorb folic acid; human cells cannot.
C)Bacteria cells can readily absorb sulfa drugs; human cells cannot.
D)Human cells can readily absorb sulfa drugs; bacteria cells cannot.
E)none of the above

Question 28

What is taking place in the synaptic cleft?

A)Neurotransmitters are diffusing between the cells.
B)Sodium ions are generating charge.
C)Negative ions are accumulating due to neuron firing.
D)Receptor sites are forming due to neuron activity.
E)none of the above

Question 29

Why does chemotherapy work best for early stages of cancer instead of late stages?

A)Chemotherapy works best on cells that are dividing rapidly, such as those in early stage tumors.
B)Chemotherapy works better on a smaller number of cells because cells that are not destroyed can be cleaned up by the immune system.
C)Chemotherapy is more effective the longer the chemical treatment.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 30

How is a set of neurons different from a wire conductor?

A)Neurons do not need to physically touch to conduct.
B)Wires are made of metal.
C)One conducts electricity; the others do not.
D)The wire can carry more information.
E)all of the above

Question 31

After a neuron has pumped out sodium ions, this neuron is in ________.

A)an impulse phase
B)a resting phase
C)the synaptic phase
D)a positive electric potential

Question 32

A new class of antiviral agents called protease inhibitors has been developed that ________.

A)limit the supply of amino acids available for viral replication
B)prevent proteases from combining to form new viral agents
C)act as nucleotide mimics and shut down DNA production
D)act as ion tunnels, inhibiting the ability of a virus maintain its charge
E)none of the above

Question 33

How do most antiviral agents work?

A)They disrupt protein synthesis in infected cells.
B)They inhibit folic acid production.
C)They soften the cell membrane of the virus.
D)They puncture the cell membrane of the virus.
E)They cause the DNA to become kinked and prevent growth of infected cell.

Question 34

How do neurons prepare to send chemical signals?

A)by pumping sodium ions out of the cell membrane
B)by pumping negative ions along the length of the cell
C)by pumping sodium ions along the length of the cell
D)by pumping negative ions out of the cell membrane
E)none of the above

Question 35

Why is cancer treated most successfully in its earliest stages?

A)All cancers are slow-growing in their early stages which makes them more susceptible to treatment.
B)Cancer cells release toxins that can accumulate in the body over time. The earlier the treatment, the fewer of these toxins are in the body.
C)The earlier the cancer is caught, the fewer the number of cancer cells there are that need to be killed, which makes it easier for the chemotherapy and the immune system to work together.
D)Early-stage cancer cells carry genetic markers that make them easy to identify and target with both chemotherapeutics and radiation treatment.

Question 36

What type of biomolecules do anti-viral chemical agents most closely mimic?

A)nucleotides
B)proteins
C)lipids
D)sugars
E)none of the above

Question 37

What is a pathogen?

A)a disease-causing organism
B)the side effect of a drug
C)a type of receptor site specific to bacteria
D)a type of virus that infects tobacco
E)none of the above

Question 38

Would formulating a sulfa drug with PABA be likely to increase or decrease its antibacterial properties?

A)There would likely be an increase in antibacterial properties due to the synergistic effect of these two agents working together.
B)A sulfa drug and PABA combine in the body to form highly active forms of penicillin, which is a powerful antibiotic.
C)No, but the combination would prove effective against viruses.
D)There would likely be a decrease in antibacterial properties because a sulfa drug works by competing with PABA

Question 39

How is cancer different from other diseases like viral or bacterial infections?

A)The cells that cause cancer were once part of the body.
B)The cancer cells do not have DNA or RNA.
C)Cancer is more than one type of disease.
D)Cancer cannot be transferred to other parts of the body.
E)none of the above

Question 40

Which of the following strategies is not used to treat cancer?

A)damage the cell walls by targeting specific proteins of the cancer cell
B)target the DNA to kill the cancerous cells
C)prevent the necessary organelle that leads to mitosis from forming
D)starve the cancer cells by interfering with metabolic processes
E)all of the above

Question 41

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? suppression of lower-brain signals

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 42

What key aspect of a depressant's chemical action sets it apart from the other classes of psychoactive drugs?

A)Depressants are active along the whole length of the neuron.
B)Depressants are only active at the synaptic cleft.
C)Depressants are irreversibly bound to neuron surface proteins.
D)Depressants are involved in the degradation of neurotransmitters.
E)none of the above

Question 43

What is the main difference between stress neurons and maintenance neurons?

A)the type of neurotransmitters they produce
B)the shape of the neuron
C)the electrochemical potential generated by the neuron
D)the width of the synaptic cleft
E)all of the above

Question 44

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? secretion of digestive juices, slowed heart rate

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 45

Why are cannabinoids not considered true hallucinogens?

A)They do not alter visual perception.
B)They do not produce a change in behavior.
C)They do not alter the mood of the subject.
D)They do not give you the munchies.
E)They do not alter the heart rate.

Question 46

Ethyl alcohol is ________.

A)a stimulant
B)a depressant
C)an opioid
D)all of the above

Question 47

How does a neuron maintain an electric potential difference across its membrane?

A)Neurons pump potassium ions across the cell membrane.
B)Neurons activate the synaptic terminals by means of an impulse phase which reverses the electric potential.
C)Neurons eject sodium ions from their inner hollow channels priming itself for an impulse.
D)Neurons rely on the synaptic terminals to supply the electric potential.

Question 48

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? accelerated heart rate, increased breathing rate

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 49

What is an advantage of synaptic clefts between neurons rather than direct connections?

A)It allows the body to regulate the passage of nerve impulses.
B)It allows for nerve signals to travel faster from one neuron to the next.
C)It makes it so that the neurons need not be extremely long.
D)It allows neurons to change their connections to other neurons.

Question 50

Which of the following is not an effect of LSD?

A)increased serotonin production
B)blocked nerve impulses
C)stimulated reward center
D)stimulated stress neurons
E)All of the above are effects of LSD.

Question 51

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely help (or hinder)us complete the following activity? meditate

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 52

Nicotine binds to sites on maintenance neurons. How does this cause a stress response?

A)The maintenance neurons do not fire so more stress neurons fire instead.
B)The maintenance neurons are converted into stress neurons.
C)The body grows new stress neurons.
D)all of the above
E)only A and B

Question 53

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? slow, coordinated movements

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 54

Which of the following is not one of the main classes of psychoactive drugs?

A)narcotics
B)stimulants
C)depressants
D)hallucinogens
E)All of the above are classes of psychoactive drugs.

Question 55

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely help (or hinder)us complete the following activity? avoid a car wreck

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 56

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely be the cause or effect of the following state? euphoria, well-being, contentment

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 57

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely help (or hinder)us complete the following activity? perform a ballet

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 58

Which of the following neurotransmitters would most likely help (or hinder)us complete the following activity? understand a single conversation in a crowded room

A)dopamine
B)norepinephrine
C)acetylcholine
D)GABA
E)serotonin

Question 59

A mechanism where the body recycles the chemicals produced during electrical transmission within the body is called ________.

A)re-uptake
B)recycling
C)bicycling
D)metabolism
E)combinatorial chemistry

Question 60

Why does long term abuse of amphetamines and cocaine cause nervous system damage?

A)The ability to make neurotransmitters declines.
B)The neurons fire too much and become damaged.
C)The synaptic cleft becomes blocked with neurotransmitters.
D)The nerve cell dies.
E)none of the above

Question 61

Why do plaque deposits make pumping blood more difficult?

A)The veins and arteries are less elastic.
B)The volume of the blood vessels decreases.
C)A higher pressure is required to force blood through the vessels.
D)all of the above
E)only A and B

Question 62

How do anesthetics work to reduce pain?

A)prevent neurons from transmitting sensation to the brain
B)reduce synthesis of pain chemicals
C)reduce pain causing inflammation
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 63

How do opiates like morphine work?

A)They block the production of pain-producing chemicals.
B)They block nerve impulses.
C)They alter the perception of pain in the brain.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 64

Why is methadone, a synthetic opioid, used to help treat opioid addiction?

A)Methadone is easier to deliver.
B)Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of physical addiction.
C)Like dissolves like.
D)Methadone helps relieve the symptoms of psychological addiction.
E)only A and B

Question 65

How is a drug addict's addiction similar to or different from our need for food? How is it different?

A)Upon abstinence, the body suffers undesirable effects.
B)Over indulgence leads to poor health.
C)You can live without drugs, but you can't live without food.
D)All of the above are accurate.

Question 66

How do over-the-counter analgesics like aspirin work?

A)They block the production of pain-producing chemicals.
B)They block nerve impulses.
C)They alter the perception of pain in the brain.
D)all of the above
E)none of the above

Question 67

Seeds of the morning glory plant contain the natural product lysergic acid, and yet they are only marginally hallucinogenic. Why?

A)Naturally occurring chemicals are generally not as hallucinogenic as human-made chemicals.
B)This lysergic acid is bound to tannins, which counteract the lysergic acid's natural hallucinogenicity.
C)Lysergic acid is not lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD)and each has its own unique physical, chemical, and even biological properties.
D)all of the above

Question 68

At one time, halothane, C CHBrCl, was widely used as a general anesthetic. Suggest why its use is now banned.

A)This chemical was found to be toxic to humans.
B)This chemical did not mix well with oxygen so that the risk of suffocation was elevated.
C)This chemical was found to be detrimental to stratospheric ozone.
D)all of the above

Question 69

A drug that alters our tolerance to pain but does not decrease the electrical signals to the brain is called a(n)________.

A)anesthetic
B)beta-blocker
C)nerve tap
D)analgesic
E)synergistic

Question 70

A variety of gaseous compounds behave as general anesthetics even though their structures have very little in common. Does this support the role of a receptor site for their mode of action?

A)This suggests that the receptor site for these anesthetics can transform into a variety of shapes.
B)This suggests that there are many different receptor sites that the general anesthetics can bind to.
C)This suggests that anesthetic molecules decompose soon after they exert their effect.
D)This suggests that there is no specific receptor site upon which general anesthetics are acting.

Question 71

Why do heavy drinkers have a greater tolerance for alcohol?

A)The stomach and intestinal walls develop a resistance to the absorption of alcohol.
B)The mind becomes accustomed to the inebriated state.
C)The body builds more excitatory receptor sites to compensate the depression.
D)The body becomes less efficient at transporting the alcohol through the lymph system.

Question 72

Which of the following is an anesthetic?

A)morphine
B)heroin
C)prostaglandin
D)novocaine
E)only A and B

Question 73

A person may feel more relaxed after smoking a cigarette, but his or her heart is actually stressed. Why?

A)Maintenance neurons are being activated by the nicotine, which directs maintenance neurotransmitters to instead activate stress neurons.
B)The relaxed feeling is more psychosomatic rather than being based upon some neurochemical response.
C)Stress neurons are over-firing to make up for nicotine's inhibition of acetylcholine.
D)The relaxed feeling arises only after the stimulated muscles rebound from a point of fatigue generated by the inhibition of acetylcholine.

Question 74

Which is the more appropriate statement: Opioids have endorphin activity, or endorphins have opioid activity? Explain your answer.

A)Opioids have endorphin activity because endorphins likely came first.
B)Endorphins have opioid activity because opioids likely came first.
C)Opioids have endorphin activity because plants likely created opioids to mimic their own endorphin systems.
D)Endorphins have opioid activity because plants likely created opioids to mimic their own endorphin systems.

Question 75

How might the structure of benzocaine be modified to create a compound having greater anesthetic properties?

A)transform the ester group into an ether
B)remove the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring
C)extend the ester group away from the benzene ring and add an additional nitrogen atom
D)add more carbon atoms to the nitrogen found bonded to the benzene ring

Question 76

Why do so many stimulant drugs result in a depressed state after an initial high?

A)These stimulant drugs are metabolized into compounds that block excitatory receptor sites.
B)Many of these drugs are mixtures of both the drug and a second chemical that is the structural mirror image of the drug. After the effect of the drug has worn off, the effect of the mirror image begins to take over.
C)The body of the user simply runs out of energy in trying to keep up with the artificially induced excited state.
D)Blocking the re-uptake of excitatory neurotransmitters has the long term effect of decreasing the concentration of neurotransmitters within the synaptic cleft.

Question 77

What is the cause of physical pain?

A)a sensation only perceived in the brain
B)rapid damage response synthesis of chemicals in the body
C)inflammation
D)nerve impulses
E)all of the above

Question 78

One of the active components of marijuana, D9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is available as a prescription drug under the trade name Marinol, which is taken orally. What advantage and what disadvantage does Marinol hold for a person suffering from nausea?

A)Advantage of Marinol: no risk of being sent to jail; disadvantage: The physician may be hesitant to prescribe it because of the illegal nature of marijuana.
B)Advantage of Marinol: doesn't damage lungs; disadvantage: Taken orally, this drug doesn't act as fast as THC when inhaled.
C)Advantage of Marinol: tax dollars are not lost to the war on drugs; disadvantage: If the patient is already nauseous, he or she will have a hard time holding it in the stomach.
D)all of the above

Question 79

Suggest why withdrawal symptoms are observed after repeated use of the hallucinogen MDA but not after repeated use of LSD, which is a more potent hallucinogen.

A)MDA is picked up by a receptor site that creates the sense of nausea.
B)MDA has more side effects, which the body learns how to counteract after repeated use.
C)The effective dose of MDA is many times greater than is the effective dose of LSD.
D)MDA is a much longer acting drug. Once in the blood stream it can remain there for days.

Question 80

Why is methadone not very useful in the treatment of cocaine addiction?

A)Methadone is a stimulant, which is the opposite of what is needed for the treatment of cocaine addiction.
B)Methadone is not readily available "on the streets" and so the cocaine user might have a hard time finding any.
C)Methadone blocks the action of cocaine, which means the user's withdrawal symptoms would be too dramatic.
D)Methadone provides only a depression of nerve signals, which is opposite of what the cocaine addict is seeking.