Regulation I Flashcards
in the regulation of gene expression in prokaryotes, what is the term for genes that encode proteins?
structural genes
in bacteria, structural genes for proteins with a related function are often grouped sequentially into units called?
operons
what are the two main sequences we are concerned with in an operon?
promoter and structural genes (1-3, that encode for proteins 1-3, each with a start and stop codon)
T/F, The genes in an operon are expressed coordinately (they are either all “turned on” or all “turned off”)
T
when an operon is expressed, all, some or none of the genes are transcribed in a single polycistronic mRNA?
all
what region of the gene regulates the transcription of the genes?
the promoter region
multiple sets of start and stop codons that allow several different proteins to be produced from this single transcript at the translational level is called?
polycistronic mRNA
in the regulation of RNA polymerase, what are repressors?
regulatory proteins that prevent the binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter and thus act on initiation of transcription.
what is a repressor encoded by?
a regulatory gene
once the repressor is produced, what is the region of the promoter called? importance?
operator and blocks binding of RNA polymerase OR inhibits transcription initiation
what are the two regulatory mechanisms responsible for negative control in the gene expression of prokaryotes?
induction and repression
what is an inducer?
A small molecule which stimulates expression of the operon by binding to the repressor and changing its confirmation so that it can no longer bind to the operator
what is repression?
a co-repressor required to activate the repressor
what happens to gene expression in prokaryotes when an inducer is present?
RNA polymerase can bind to the promoter and transcribe the operon
what happens to gene expression in prokaryotes when an inducer is not present?
The repressor is active, transcription is repressed, the genes in the operon are not expressed.
what is responsible for the induction of the lac operon in prokaryotes?
lactose, alpha 1,4 linkage; used in the metabolism of lactose, readily used as allolactose, alpha 1,6 linkage, by the bacteria to produce 3 additional enzymes required for lactose metabolism which are encoded on the lac operon