Chapter 16: Control of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes Flashcards
Control regions (cis-acting)
elements upstream of the operon that affect transcription, eg. promoter, operator
Trans-acting elements
diffusible product that interacts with a control region
A gene product (usually a diffusible protein or an RNA molecule) that acts to regulate the expression of a target gene.
Lactose
sugar (energy source) broken into simpler sugars galactose and glucose
Beta Galactosidase
(b-galactosidase)
Long Version
(product of lacZ gene)
breaks lactose into galactose and glucose
Much of the genetic analysis leading to the lac operon model was done by Francois Jacob and Jacques Monod in early 1960s
A bacterial enzyme, encoded by the lacZ gene, that converts lactose into galactose and glucose.
Lactose present in the extracellular environment.
The catabolic conversion of the disaccharide lactose into its monosaccharide units, galactose, and glucose.
Beta Galactosidase
b-galactosidase
(product of lacZ gene)
breaks lactose into galactose and glucose
Two other genes (lacY [lactose permease] and lacA [trans-acetylase]) are transcribed from this operon…..
the E. coli lac operon
structural genes
The structural genes of the lac operon are transcribed into a single polycistronic mRNA, which is translated simultaneously by several ribosomes into the 3 enzymes encoded by the operon.
locus
upstream gene encoding a “repressor” protein.
Shuts down lac operon when there is no lactose present.
E. coli lac operon
Lactose: sugar (energy source) broken into simpler sugars galactose and glucose
Beta Galactosidase (product of lacZ gene) breaks lactose into galactose and glucose
Two other genes (lacY [lactose permease] ad lacA [trans-acetylase]) transcribed from this operon
operon
Technical Definition
A genetic unit consisting of one or more structural genes encoding polypeptides, and an adjacent operator gene that regulates the transcriptional activity of the structural gene or genes.
structural gene
Technical Definition
A gene that encodes the amino acid sequence of a polypeptide chain.
Operon
multiple genes in one unit arranged for coordinated gene expression
cis-acting sequence
Technical Defnintion
A DNA sequence that regulates the expression of a gene located on the same chromosome.
This contrasts with a trans-acting element where regulation is under the control of a sequence on the homologous chromosome.
What enzyme breaks lactose into galactose and glucose?
Beta Galactosidase
The ______ conversion of the disaccharide lactose yields its monosaccharide units: ____, and _____.
The catabolic conversion of the disaccharide lactose into its monosaccharide units, galactose, and glucose.
The structural genes of the lac operon are transcribed into a single polycistronic _____, which is translated simultaneously by several _____ into the 3 enzymes encoded by the _____.
The structural genes of the lac operon are transcribed into a single polycistronic mRNA, which is translated simultaneously by several ribosomes into the 3 enzymes encoded by the operon.
IPTG
molecule that is able to induce lac operon
Turns on system more quickly, useful for experimental procedures
Molecule structure is similar to one-half of lactose.
The gratuitous inducer isopropylthiogalactoside (IPTG).
inducer
An effector molecule that activates transcription.
DNA binding proteins typically contain a conserved DNA-binding domain with characteristics such as:
- helix-turn-helix motif
- zinc finger
- leucine zipper
helix–turn–helix (HTH) motif
In DNA-binding proteins, the structure of a region in which a turn of four amino acids holds two helices at right angles to each other.
In a helix–turn–helix or homeodomain, 3 planes of the -helix of the protein are established, and these domains bind in the grooves of the DNA molecule.
zinc finger
A class of DNA-binding domains seen in proteins.
They have a characteristic pattern of cysteine and histidine residues that complex with zinc ions, throwing intermediate amino acid residues into a series of loops or fingers.
In a zinc finger, cysteine and histidine residues bind to a atom. This loops the amino acid chain out into a fingerlike configuration.
leucine zipper
In DNA-binding proteins, a structural motif characterized by a stretch in which every 7th amino acid residue is leucine, with adjacent regions containing positively charged amino acids.
Leucine zippers on two polypeptides may interact to form a dimer that binds to DNA.
A leucine zipper is the result of dimers from leucine residue at every other turn of the -helix in facing stretches of two polypeptide chains. When the -helical regions form a leucine zipper, the regions beyond the zipper form a Y-shaped region that grips the DNA in a scissorlike configuration.
Wild type operon with NO lactose (or IPTG) present:
Wild type repressor binds to promoter site, BLOCKS transcription, so….
no RNA —> no proteins
this is “Negative Control” of the operon.
Wild type operon WITH lactose (or IPTG) present
Repressor protein changes shape upon binding of lactose.
Proteins that change shape when binding another molecule are known as allosteric proteins.
E. coli lac operon mutation studies determine:
- Whether some parts of the lac operon are cis-acting (able to control the expression of genes ONLY when on the same piece of DNA),
- Whether some parts of the lac operon are trans-acting (able to control expression of genes on other DNA molecules,
- And what is the hierarchy of the different types of mutations?
Hierarchy of mutations
- Promoter minus (P-) mutations (disables RNA polymerase binding), supercedes all other mutations in cis: system OFF all the time
- O(c) mutations in cis supercede any I mutation: system ON all the time
- I(s) dominant over I+ is dominant over I-
promoter element
An upstream regulatory region of a gene to which RNA polymerase binds prior to the initiation of transcription.
Promoter minus (P-) mutations
disables RNA polymerase binding.
Supercedes ALL other mutations in the heirarchy in cis.
System OFF all the time!
O(c) mutations in cis
supercede any I mutation: system ON all the time
The second type of mutation in the hierarchy
I(s) mutation
is dominant over I+ is dominant over I-
allosteric proteins
proteins that change shape when binding another molecule
P-
Mutation at P site.
NO binding of RNA Polymerase possible
Promoter minus (P-) mutations supercede all other mutations in cis.
system OFF all the time
Trans mutation
produces a diffusible product, can be rescued with I+
Mutant (I-):
constitutive expression,
ON all the time
Rescue mutant experiments
Transform mutant E. coli with a plasmid (circular DNA molecule) called F’ that carries various parts of the lac operon
Creates “partial diploid” bacteria, has 2 copies of some genes, thus “partial”
Determine if we can rescue the mutant phenotype
System induced with IPTG (in place of lactose)
Do we see functional B-gal when there is NO lactose present?
NO (OFF)
Do we see functional B-gal when there I(s) lactose present?
YES (ON)
I+ is a diffusible product, so…
it can rescue operon function
I+Z+Y+
wild type
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? OFF
Permease (Y):Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? OFF
I-Z+Y+
WILD TYPE, with regulation, NO lactose or IPTG?
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? ON
Permease (Y):Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? ON
WILD TYPE, with regulation, NO lactose or IPTG?
I+Z-Y+/ F’I-Z+Y+
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? OFF
Permease (Y): Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? OFF
I+ is a diffusible product, so it can rescue operon regulation
I-Z-Y+/ F’I+Z+Y-
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? OFF
Permease (Y):Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? OFF
I+ is a diffusible product, so it can rescue operon regulation
I-Z-Y+/ F’I-Z+Y+
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? ON
Permease (Y):Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? ON
NO diffusible I+ here
(∆I,Z,Y)/ F’I-Z+Y+
B-gal (Z): Induced? ON
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? ON
Permease (Y):Induced? ON
Permease (Y): Non-induced? ON
I, Z, Y deletion, NO regulation from the F’
I+ dominant over _____
I-
I(s)
superrepressor mutation:
repressor cannot bind lactose; therefore, the system is OFF
Cannot be rescued by I+ because the operon will be bound by the diffusible I(s) product
I(s) Z+Y+
B-gal (Z): Induced? OFF
B-gal (Z): Non-induced? OFF
Permease (Y):Induced? OFF
Permease (Y): Non-induced? OFF
I(s) superrepressor mutation: OFF all the time