Control of
Prokaryotic (Bacterial) Genes
AP Biology
2007-2008
Evolution of gene regulation
Prokaryotes
single-celled
evolved to grow & divide rapidly
must respond quickly to changes in
external environment
exploit transient resources
Gene regulation
turn genes on & off rapidly
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flexibility & reversibility
adjust levels of enzymes
for synthesis & digestion
Prokaryotic Gene Control
Bacteria need to respond quickly to changes
in their environment
Transcription and translation happen
simultaneouslythey are coupled!
Transcription is what is regulated.
Lack of nucleus makes this very efficient!
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Prokaryotic Control of Metabolism
Gene regulation
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instead of blocking
enzyme function,
block transcription
of genes for all
enzymes in
tryptophan pathway
saves energy by
not wasting it on
unnecessary
protein synthesis
Now, thats a
good idea from a
lowly bacterium!
= inhibition
Gene regulation in bacteria
Cells vary amount of specific enzymes
by regulating gene transcription
turn genes on or turn genes off
turn genes OFF example
if bacterium has enough tryptophan then it
STOP doesnt need to make enzymes used to build
tryptophan
turn genes ON example
if bacterium encounters new sugar (energy
GO source), like lactose, then it needs to start
making enzymes used to digest lactose
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Bacteria group genes together
Operon
genes grouped together with related functions
example: all enzymes in a metabolic pathway
Two types: INDUCIBLE and REPRESSIBLE
Structures of an Operon
promoter = RNA polymerase binding site
single promoter controls transcription of all genes in
operon
transcribed as one unit & a single mRNA is made
operator = DNA binding site of repressor protein
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Operon model
Operon:
operator, promoter & genes they control
serve as a model for gene regulation
RNA
polymerase
RNA repressor
polymerase
gene1
gene2
gene3
gene4
enzyme1
enzyme2
enzyme3
enzyme4
mRNA
promoter
DNA
operator
Repressor protein turns off gene by
blocking
AP BiologyRNA polymerase binding site.
repressor
= repressor protein
Repressible operon: tryptophan
Synthesis pathway model
When excess tryptophan is present,
it binds to tryp repressor protein &
triggers repressor to bind to DNA
RNA
polymerase
RNA
trp repressor
polymerase
gene1
gene2
gene3
gene4
enzyme1
enzyme2
enzyme3
enzyme4
mRNA
promoter
blocks (represses) transcription
operator
DNA
trp
trp
trp
repressor
repressor protein
trp
trp
trp
trp
trp
trp
conformational change in
AP Biologyprotein!
repressor
trp
repressor
tryptophan
trp
tryptophan repressor protein
complex
Tryptophan operon
What happens when tryptophan is present?
Dont need to make tryptophan-building enzymes
Tryptophan
AP Biology
is allosteric regulator of repressor protein
Inducible operon: lactose
lac
lac
RNA
polymerase
lac
Digestive pathway model
lac
When lactose is present, binds to
lac repressor protein & triggers
repressor to release DNA
lac
lac
lac
RNAlac repressor
polymerase
induces transcription
gene1
gene2
gene3
gene4
enzyme1
enzyme2
enzyme3
enzyme4
mRNA
promoter
operator
repressor
lac
conformational change in
AP Biologyprotein!
repressor
lac
repressor
DNA
repressor protein
lactose
lactose repressor protein
complex
Lactose operon
What happens when lactose is present?
Need to make lactose-digesting enzymes
Lactose is allosteric regulator of repressor protein
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Up Regulation increase the rate!
Ex: CAP/cAMP system
When lactose is present
and glucose is low:
cAMP is high
cAMP activates
Catabolite Activator
Protein (CAP)
Increases the rate of
transcription by
100x!
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Operon summary
Repressible operon
usually functions in anabolic pathways
synthesizing end products
When end product is present in excess,
cell allocates resources to other uses.
Inducible operon
usually functions in catabolic pathways
produce enzymes only when nutrient is
available
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digesting nutrients to simpler molecules
Cell avoids making proteins that have nothing to do.
Cell allocates resources to other uses.
1961 | 1965
Jacob & Monod: lac Operon
Francois Jacob & Jacques Monod
first to describe operon system
coined the phrase operon
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Jacques Monod
Francois Jacob
Dont be repressed!
How can I induce you
to ask Questions?
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