BIO 1140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Allolactose, Operon, Repressor

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magentawolf8

8 Nov 2016

School

University of Ottawa

Department

Biology

Course

BIO 1140

Professor

Caroline Petit- Turcotte

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Document Summary

Achieved through operons; genetic switches that control transcription (on/off) 4 genes in a group, under the control of a promoter. Regulatory gene : builds lac repressor (designed to find operator and bind to it, clamps the operator, prevents the polymerase from doing its job - prevents initiation of transcription ) Lac z, lac y, lac a : 3 genes, they code for proteins (enzymes), these enzymes contribute to breaking down lactose, no lactose : not efficient to make these enzymes, therefore it can be turned off) When lactose is present, it gets converted to allolactose, since low level transcription ensures that there is the means to get the reaction started. Change conformation of the repressor, preventing it to interact with the operator, allowing it to interact with the promoter, transcription is initiated. Complete transcription provides one mrna (polysestronic mrna- one mrna can provide sequence for more than one peptide) -only in prokaryotes.

Related Questions

A theoretical operon (amo) in E. coli contains several structural genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a particular amino acid. Unlike the lac operon, in which the repressor gene is separate from the operon itself, for the amo operon, the repressor gene is found within the operon itself. When the end product amino acid is present, it binds to the repressor, and this complex binds to the operator, repressing the operon. In the absence of the amino acid, the repressor fails to bind to the operator, and transcription proceeds. Characterize this operon, comparing it to the regulation of the lac and trp operons. Be sure to discuss how regulation is affected by having the repressor gene as part of the operon.

Then, consider the following mutations:

a) Mutation in the operator region;

b) Mutation in the promoter region;

c) Mutation in the repressor gene.

In each case, state whether the operon will be transcribed or not, and describe how the mutation affects the regulation of the operon. Compare each response to the equivalent situation in the lac and trp operons.

1.) What type of control best describes the lac operon when it is regulated by allolactose? Explain the features of this type of regulation using the lac operon as an example.

2.) What is positive gene regulation?

a) when an activator protein binds to the operator of a gene to turn expression off

b) when a repressor protein binds to the operator of a gene to turn expression off

c) when an activator protein binds to the operator of a gene to turn expression on

d) when a repressor protein binds to the operator of a gene to turn expression on

e) when a protein binds to DNA to change gene expression

3.) In the lactose operon of E. coli, what is the function of each of the following genes or sites: a) regulator, b) operator, c) promoter, d) structural gene Z and e) structural gene Y?

a) regulator gene

b) operator

c) promoter

d) structural gene Z

e) structural gene Y

4.) In a negative, repressible regulatory mechanism, transcription of the structural gene(s) occurs in

a) the presence of the co-repressor, but not in its absence.

b) the absence of the co-repressor, but not in its presence.

c) the presence of the inducer, but not in its absence.

d) the absence of the inducer but not in its presence.

e) the absence or presence of the co-repressor.

What are answers and can you explain them to me?

1. What is the term when the product of a biochemical pathway inhibits the activity of the first enzyme of a pathway?

		feedback inhibition.
		activator inhibition.
		diffusional regulation.
		enzyme activation.

2. Through control of gene expression, prokaryotes respond to changing __________ conditions.

		internal
		protein
		environmental
		genetic

3. A protein that negatively regulates transcription by binding to the operator is known as the

		operon
		repressor
		activator
		inducer

4. During attenutation, when tryptophan levels are high, the ________ stem-loop forms and transcription ________ the trpL gene.

		1-2, ends just past
		3-4, ends just past
		1-2, continues beyond
		3-4, continues beyond

5. The process of turning on the expression of a gene in response to a substance in the environment is called:

		constituation.
		repression.
		induction.
		catabolism.

6. What is a function of some specific transcription factors?

		to bind to the promoter region of the gene to facilitate the proper alignment of the RNA polymerase
		to bind to the centromere to induce meiosis
		to bind to enhancer regions to help regulate gene transcription
		to bind to the operator to recruit sigma factor

7. How does exposing an E.coli cell to glucose affect the regulation of the lac operon via CAP?

		cAMP binds to CAP and transcription is increased.
		cAMP binds to CAP and transcription is decreased.
		cAMP does not bind to CAP and transcription is increased.
		cAMP does not bind to CAP and transcription is decreased.

8. The lac repressor protein works when mutations in the repressor gene and structural genes are:

		in cis or in trans.
		in trans only.
		in cis only.
		in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

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BIO 1140 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Allolactose, Operon, Repressor

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