Concept explainers
To review:
The efficiency of the promoter for the repressor protein and whether the synthesis of the repressor is constitutive or inducible.
Introduction:
The regulatory proteins bind to the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and play a key role in determining which genes are to be activated. These are of two types, namely, the repressor and activator proteins. The proteins, whose synthesis is regulated by inducers are known as inducible proteins, while the proteins that are synthesized at a constant rate all the time are known as constitutive proteins.
In the given case, a regulatory gene codes for the repressor protein, which is synthesized in small quantities at a constant rate. This protein acts on the lac operon of Escherichia coli (E. coli). A promoter is a DNA region, which initiates the process of transcription of a certain gene by binding with the ribonucleic acid (RNA) polymerase.
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Life: The Science of Biology
- How does the repressor protein contribute to selective expression of the structural genes Z, Y, and A in the lac operon? The repressor protein is only expressed when lactose is present. The repressor is always expressed. It blocks transcription when lactose is present. The repressor is always expressed. It allows transcription when lactose is absent. The repressor is always expressed. It blocks transcription when lactose is absent. The repressor protein is only expressed when lactose is absent.arrow_forwardGiven the following mutant and conditions, predict the expression of the lacZ gene (no expression, basal level, activate level of expression). A mutant of E. coli that has a mutation in the operator of the lac operon that prevents the repressor from binding. + glucose, - lactose + glucose, + lactose – glucose, + lactosearrow_forwardThe lac operon is a negative inducible system and allolactose will bind to the regulator protein when present. Which of the following is true? the free repressor (not bound by the inducer) cannot bind to the operator. allolactose must bind to the lac repressor protein, preventing it from binding to DNA, in order for the structural genes to be transcribed. allolactose must be absent in order for the structural genes to be transcribed. the presence of allolactose prevents transcription of the the lacl gene, which encodes the lac repressor.arrow_forward
- Like the lac operon, the hexose operon is controlled by a separate regulatory protein under the control of its own promoter (see the schematic of the operon below). The hexose regulatory protein is sensitive to fatty acyl CoA levels. When all hexose fuel sources are depleted, the bacteria switch to lipid metabolism and fatty acyl CoA levels increase. This turns expression of the hexose operon off. +1 +1 Regulatory Gene regulator Hexose Operon Genes operon regulator promoter operon promoterarrow_forwardA theoretical operon (theo) in E. coli contains several structural genes encoding enzymes that are involved sequentially in the biosynthesis of an amino acid. Unlike the lac operon, in which the repressor gene is separate from the operon, the gene encoding the regulator molecule is contained within the theo operon. When the end product (the amino acid) is present, it combines with the regulator molecule, and this complex binds to the operator, repressing the operon. In the absence of the amino acid, the regulatory molecule fails to bind to the operator, and transcription proceeds. Characterize this operon, then consider the following mutations, as well as the situation in which the wild-type gene is present along with the mutantgene in partially diploid cells (F¿):(a) Mutation in the operator region.(b) Mutation in the promoter region.(c) Mutation in the regulator gene.In each case, will the operon be active or inactive in transcription, assuming that the mutation affects the…arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements about the lactose operon in E. coli is TRUE? It contains the genes that encode the proteins for lactose metabolism. Its transcription is blocked when allolactose binds to the lac repressor. It contains a promoter, an operator and an attenuator. It is barely transcribed, when lactose is present in the medium and glucose is absent. It is transcribed at very high levels, when lactose is absent, and glucose is present.arrow_forward
- In the presence of tryptophan and the promoter sequence was mutated such that the RNA polymerase can no longer bind, the structural genes will:[ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be deleted from the operon"] In the absence of tryptophan and the trpR repressor gene is mutated such that the repressor protein product can no longer bind to the operator, the structural genes will:[ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be deleted from the operon"] In the presence of tryptophan and the trpR repressor gene is mutated such that the repressor protein product can no longer bind to the operator, the structural genes will:[ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be constantly expressed"]arrow_forwardWhat would happen if the operator sequence of the lac operon contained a mutation that prevented the repressor protein from binding the operator? (Explain what would happen both in the presence and absence of lactose)arrow_forwardIn the tryptophan operon of E. coli, what happens when tryptophan levels get too high? tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too high (Option C is the answer for the question above) What effect will the above process have on the tryptophan operon? RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, stopping transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, stopping transcription all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too higharrow_forward
- In the tryptophan operon of E. coli, what happens when tryptophan levels get too high? tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too high (Option D is the answer for the question above) What effect will the above process have on the tryptophan operon? RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, stopping transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, stopping transcription all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too higharrow_forwardIn the tryptophan operon of E. coli, what happens when tryptophan levels get too high? tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is removed from its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to detach from the operator tryptophan is bound to its co-repressor, causing it to attach to the operator all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too high What effect will the above process have on the tryptophan operon? RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will detach from the promoter, stopping transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, initiating transcription RNA polymerase will attach to the promoter, stopping transcription all of the above occur at equal rates when tryptophan levels get too higharrow_forwardIn the presence of lactose and the promoter sequence was mutated such that the RNA polymerase can no longer bind, the structural genes will:[ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be deleted from the operon"] In the absence of lactose and the lacI repressor gene is mutated such that the repressor protein product can no longer bind to the operator, the structural genes will: [ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be deleted from the operon"] In the presence of lactose and the lacI repressor gene is mutated such that the repressor protein product can no longer bind to the operator, the structural genes will: [ Select ] ["No longer be expressed", "Be constantly expressed", "Be deleted from the operon"]arrow_forward
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