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Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes: (KCSP 17)
Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes: (KCSP 17)
in Prokaryotes
(KCSP 17)
Genetics 244
Introductory Molecular Biology
Departement Genetika
Genetics Department
Regulation of Gene Expression in Prokaryotes
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Inducible system:
Lactose metabolism in E. coli
• Lactose = galactose +
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
glucose
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The lac operon
• Gene complex (operon) consists of 3 structural genes
and 2 regulating “genes” (cis & trans action)
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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The lac operon
• Polycistronic mRNA: order Z-Y-A
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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How does lactose regulate
transcription of the 3 structural genes?
• Gene activity repressed in absence of lactose –
lactose induces
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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Mutations in the lac operon
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
Example of negative
control
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Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
s
Lac I mutation
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Genetic proof for the Operon Model
• Hypothesis:
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
I+O+Z+ + -
I+O+Z- - -
I-O+Z+ + +
I+OCZ+ + +
I-O+Z+ / F’ I+ + -
I+OCZ+ / F’ O+ + +
I+O+Z+ / F’ I- + -
I+O+Z+ / F’ OC + -
ISO+Z+ - -
ISO+Z+ / F’ I+
- - 12
Positive control:
Catabolite Activating Protein
What happens if glucose is present in abundance in the
environment?
• catabolite-activating protein (CAP) involved in the repression of
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
CAP
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Tryptophan metabolism:
A repressible system
• Presence of tryptophan in environment results in repression of
tryptophan synthesis
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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Functioning of the trp operon
• Hypothesis – inactive repressor cannot interact with operator
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
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Functioning of the trp operon
• In the presence of tryptophan – allosteric transition; now
possible to bind to operator and prevent transcription
• Example of negative control
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
• tryptophan is a co-repressor
• attenuation
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Arabinose regulating protein:
Positive and negative control
• Arabinose metabolism – ara B, ara A and ara D structural genes
• ara C gene – regulating protein (dimer)
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
• Operator region
• Inducer site with CAP binding site
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Functioning of the ara operon
• Arabinose present
• protein only binds to the I-region – serves as a inducer;
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
positive control
• cAMP present – CAP binds
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Functioning of the ara operon
• Arabinose absent
• protein binds to I-region and O2-site – serves as a repressor;
Genetics 244 – Gene Regulation in Prokaryotes
negative control
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