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Gene Regulation: Prokaryotes: Operon

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159 views5 pages

Gene Regulation: Prokaryotes: Operon

worksheets for ap biology

Uploaded by

J15
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gene Regulation

Prokaryotes: Operon
An operon is a set of genes grouped together, transcribed together with one promoter for one function
(we think).
At the essential level, operons consist of a promoter, operator, and coding genes.

ÆPromoter site- Sequence of DNA where RNA Polymerase binds for transcription. This is the beginning
of a gene.
ÆOperator site- This site controls access to the promoter. A repressor protein may bind here. The
operator is typically located within or very near the promoter. This is the “on/off” switch of a gene.

Prokaryotes: Negative Gene Regulation- Repressible Operons- trp operon


Major Players
DNA Sequences “On”
Regulatory gene
ÆCode for Repressor

Operator
ÆBinding site for Represssor

Promoter
ÆBinding site for RNA Polymerase

Coding genes
ÆActual genes produced

Proteins & other “Off”


RNA Polymerase
ÆTranscribes operon genes

Repressor
ÆBlocks transcription by RNA
Polymerase

Corepressor*
ÆActivates the repressor

*Note that the italicized “corepressor”


is the difference between inducible and
repressible operons.
SummaryÆ By default, a repressible operon is “on” and is thus often involved in anabolic processes.
When the operon is on, the concentration of the product of the operon is being produced in increasing
quantity. Once the concentration is high enough, the product will act as a corepressor, bind to the
repressor, and result in a conformational change and thus activate the repressor. The active repressor will
bind to the operator site turning off the operon. This is, of course, an example of negative feedback. As
product (corepressor) concentrations decrease, the represssors become inactive and leave the operator
site. RNA Polymerase is now able to latch on to the promoter site and transcribe. Repressible operons
are ideal for keeping a consistent amount of product since a rise above the desired range reduces
production and a fall below the desired range results in synthesis.

®
Copyright © 2009 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit: www.layingthefoundation.org
Gene Regulation

Prokaryotes: Negative Gene Regulation- Inducible Operons- lac operon


Major Players
DNA Sequences “Off”
Regulatory gene
ÆCode for Repressor

Operator
ÆBinding site for Represssor

Promoter
ÆBinding site for RNA
Polymerase

Operon Genes
ÆActual genes produced

Proteins and other


RNA Polymerase
ÆTranscribes operon genes

Repressor “On”
ÆBlocks transcription by RNA
Polymerase

Inducer*
ÆInactivates the repressor

*Note that the italicized “inducer”


is the difference between inducible
and repressible operons.

SummaryÆ By default, an inducible operon is “off” and is thus often involved in catabolic processes.
Observe the instance of the lac operon above. It would energetically inefficient to produce lactase when
the substrate lactose (allolactose) is absent. The operon is therefore off until the substrate lactose is
present. Note that lactose will act as inducer as it inactivates the repressor.

NoteÆ Notice that the above system is still considered a negative control mechanism as it is still
involving repressors.

®
Copyright © 2009 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit: www.layingthefoundation.org
Gene Regulation

Prokaryotes: Positive Gene Regulation- lac operon, a closer look


“To catabolize or not to catabolize” is not
always a simple yes/no (inactive
repressor/active repressor) question. In this
example, glucose is a “first choice” food
source while lactose is a “second choice” food
source. The inclusion of an activator (CRP) in
this more detailed view of the lac operon
creates an additional step in the “decision
making” process. If the 1st choice food source
is scarce, and the 2nd choice food source is
present, the operon for the second food choice
(lactose/lactase) is on.

The essential ideaÆ Each protein is an


additional “yes/no” step of regulation. If it is
necessary to account for the presence of both
glucose and lactose, it is possible to do so by
have two different regulatory proteins.

Eukaryotes: Gene Regulation prior to transcription


Histone Acetylation (-COCH3)
ÆHistones allow for ~2m of DNA to be packed into the nucleus of a
human somatic cell in an organized manner. In addition, the degree
to which the DNA is packed plays a role in gene expression.
ÆAcetylated histones hold DNA less tightly and vice versa. Tightly
compacted DNA is unable to be unzipped and transcribed and is
therefore “off”
ÆAcetylation/deacytlation enzymes may be closely related to
transcription factors

DNA Methylation (-CH3)


ÆHighly methylated DNA is more likely to be “off” and vice versa.
Some speculate that the methyl groups attach to promoter sites
blocking access to RNA Polymerase.
ÆMethylation patterns are reproduced after DNA replication
resulting in genomic imprinting.

The main ideaÆ Histone acetylation and DNA methylation are both pre-transcription control
mechanisms because they control access off RNA Polymerase to promoter sites.

®
Copyright © 2009 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit: www.layingthefoundation.org
Gene Regulation

Eukaryotes: Gene Regulation During Transcription


Transcription Factors
ÆTranscription Factors bind to specific
sites near the promoter (like the TATA box
in Eukaryotes).
ÆThese transcription factors bind to double
helix DNA and act as a call to begin
transcription.

Enhancer Sites & Activator Proteins


ÆSpecific sites known as enhancer sites
bind activator proteins and are then able to
interact with a promoter 1000’s of
nucleotides downstream due to the bending
of DNA. The Activator proteins work in
tandem with transcription factors to aid in
RNA Polymerase binding.

Eukaryotes: Post transcription regulation: 5’ Cap, Poly (A) Tail, Alternative Splicing

5’ CAP Poly (A) Tail


This unique bonding arrangement added to the 5’ This “many adenine” tail allows for the exit of
end of a pre-mRNA results in increased length of mRNA from the nucleus. Not all RNA is destined
survival time for the mRNA when the cap is to be transcribed in the cytoplasm (histone proteins,
added…increased survival time means more etc.). It is thought that the Poly (A) tail is the
translated protein. The 5’ cap also acts to guide the“secret handshake” that allows the RNA to pass by
ribosome into place during translation. proteins in the nuclear pore and out into the
cytoplasm for translation.
Alternative Splicing
Splicing mRNA exons together in different combinations to produce different proteins. Example: The
original sequence ABCD may be spliced into ABC, ABD, ACD, etc. Research suggests that nearly 60%
of all human DNA is expressed as alternatively spliced RNA. Alternative splicing is pervasive in the
creation of antibodies.

®
Copyright © 2009 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit: www.layingthefoundation.org
Gene Regulation

Contrasting DNA & Gene Regulation in Eukaryotes & Prokaryotes


Prokaryotes organize genes via operons while eukaryotic genes are spread out…even on different
chromosomes.

Prokaryotes usually have 1 promoter for multiple genes. Eukaryotes usually have 1 promoter for 1 gene
(that’s what biologists think at the moment).

Prokaryotes don’t typically have introns, eukaryotic genomes are made up of many. The human genome
for example is primarily made up of introns.

Prokaryotes have 1 copy of DNA (haploid). Eukaryotes are diploid.

Though prokaryote chromosomes can coil and may be associated with protein, eukaryotic DNA is able to
become greatly condensed as chromatin.

Prokaryotes have no nucleus, so translation can start once transcription has started. Eukaryotes have
additional control mechanisms available since transcription and translation take place in separate
locations (nucleus and cytoplasm).

®
Copyright © 2009 Laying the Foundation , Inc., Dallas, TX. All rights reserved. Visit: www.layingthefoundation.org

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