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    Summary The Lac Operon

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    Nadiratul Khairah
    The lac operon contains genes that allow bacteria like E. coli to metabolize lactose. It is regulated by two proteins - the lac repressor acts as a sensor for lactose, and catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a sensor for glucose. The lac operon will be highly expressed only when lactose is present and glucose is absent, as detected by the two regulatory proteins. The lac repressor binds to the operator region of the lac operon when lactose is absent, preventing transcription. But in the presence of lactose, the lac repressor detaches from the operator, allowing transcription. CAP aids transcription when glucose levels are low by helping RNA polymerase bind to the promoter.

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    Summary The Lac Operon

    Uploaded by

    Nadiratul Khairah
    66 views3 pages
    The lac operon contains genes that allow bacteria like E. coli to metabolize lactose. It is regulated by two proteins - the lac repressor acts as a sensor for lactose, and catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a sensor for glucose. The lac operon will be highly expressed only when lactose is present and glucose is absent, as detected by the two regulatory proteins. The lac repressor binds to the operator region of the lac operon when lactose is absent, preventing transcription. But in the presence of lactose, the lac repressor detaches from the operator, allowing transcription. CAP aids transcription when glucose levels are low by helping RNA polymerase bind to the promoter.

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    Summary The lac Operon

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    The lac operon contains genes that allow bacteria like E. coli to metabolize lactose. It is regulated by two proteins - the lac repressor acts as a sensor for lactose, and catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a sensor for glucose. The lac operon will be highly expressed only when lactose is present and glucose is absent, as detected by the two regulatory proteins. The lac repressor binds to the operator region of the lac operon when lactose is absent, preventing transcription. But in the presence of lactose, the lac repressor detaches from the operator, allowing transcription. CAP aids transcription when glucose levels are low by helping RNA polymerase bind to the promoter.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    66 views3 pages

    Summary The Lac Operon

    Uploaded by

    Nadiratul Khairah
    The lac operon contains genes that allow bacteria like E. coli to metabolize lactose. It is regulated by two proteins - the lac repressor acts as a sensor for lactose, and catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a sensor for glucose. The lac operon will be highly expressed only when lactose is present and glucose is absent, as detected by the two regulatory proteins. The lac repressor binds to the operator region of the lac operon when lactose is absent, preventing transcription. But in the presence of lactose, the lac repressor detaches from the operator, allowing transcription. CAP aids transcription when glucose levels are low by helping RNA polymerase bind to the promoter.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 3

    Nama: Nadiratul Khairah

    NIM : E1M019056

    Kelas: V/B

    Summary of Material About The lac Operon

    “Biokimia I”

    The lac operon is an operon, or group of genes with a single promoter (transcribed as a
    single mRNA). The genes in the operon encode proteins that allow the bacteria to use lactose
    as an energy source.

    • The lac operon of E. Coli contains genes involved in lactose metabolism. It’s
    expressed only when lactose is present and glucose is absent.
    • Two regulators turn the operon “on” and “off” in response to lactose and glucose
    levels: the lac repressor and catabolite activator protein (CAP).
    • The lac repressor acts as a lactose sensor. It normally blocks transcription of the
    operon, but stops acting as a repressor when lactose is present. The lac repressor
    senses lactose indirectly, through its isomer allolactose.
    • Catabolite activator protein (CAP) acts as a glucose sensor. It activates transcription
    of the operon, but only when glucose levels are low. CAP senses glucose indirectly,
    through the “hunger signal” molecule cAMP.

    Makes the lac operon turn on , To be as efficient as possible, E. Coli should express the lac
    operon only when two conditions are met:

    • Lactose is available, and


    • Glucose is not available

    Levels of lactose and glucose detected, and how how do changes in levels affect lac operon
    transcription are two regulatory proteins are involved:

    • One, the lac repressor, acts as a lactose sensor.


    • The other, catabolite activator protein (CAP), acts as a glucose sensor.

    Structure of the lac operon


    The lac operon contains three genes: lacZ, lacY, and lacA. lacZ encodes an enzyme that splits
    lactose into monosaccharides (single-unit sugars) that can be fed into glycolysis. Similarly,
    lacY encodes a membrane-embedded transporter that helps bring lactose into the cell. In
    addition to the three genes, the lac operon also contains a number of regulatory DNA
    sequences.

    The lac repressor is a protein that represses (inhibits) transcription of the lac operon. It does
    this by binding to the operator, which partially overlaps with the promoter.

    1. Upper panel: No lactose. When lactose is absent, the lac repressor binds tightly to the
    operator. It gets in RNA polymerase’s way, preventing transcription.
    2. Lower panel: With lactose. Allolactose (rearranged lactose) binds to the lac repressor
    and makes it let go of the operator. RNA polymerase can now transcribe the operon.

    Catabolite activator protein (CAP)

    1. Upper panel: Low glucose. When glucose levels are low, cAMP is produced. The
    cAMP attaches to CAP, allowing it to bind DNA. CAP helps RNA polymerase bind
    to the promoter, resulting in high levels of transcription.
    2. Lowerglucose. When glucose levels are high, no cAMP is made. CAP cannot bind
    DNA without cAMP, so transcription occurs only at a low level.

    Does the lac operon really turn on when the lac operon will be expressed at high levels if
    two conditions are met:

    • Glucose must be unavailable


    • Lactose must be availabl

    Putting it all together

    • Glucose present, lactose absent


    • Glucose present, lactose present
    • Glucose absent, lactose absent
    • Glucose absent, lactose present

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