Biochemistry 2280A Lecture : Trp Operon

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orchidotter238

26 Dec 2011

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In e. coli the 5 genes for tryptophan biosynthesis are transcribed from a common promoter. In ecoli, 5 genes required for trypophan biosynthesis (genes requried to make tryptophan) is expressed on same rna and translated form that common rna. The operon shown edcba they make diff rpotein products which are required for tryp biosynthesis. The key here: these genes are required for synthesis. Cell wants to turn them on when it needs tryptophan when it can t get it from env. This occurs when there is very little tryptophan around. It would rather use tryptophan from env if it could. If it can t, it has to make its own tryptophan by turning on the gene. Between the -35 and -10 sequences is an element called the trp operator that binds a protein called the trp repressor. When tryptophan is low, tryptophan dissociates from the trp repressor. The trp repressor no longer binds the trp operator.

Related Questions

The following test deals with the regulation of the trp operon of Escherichia coli. Two mutants of this operon are described: in mutant A, the operator region of the operon carries a point mutation so that it is unable to carry out its function; mutant B expresses a trp repressor protein unable to bind tryptophan. Review the principle of the regulation of this operon and then solve the following questions related to the behavior of the mutant cells using the options below.

A: Mutant A B: Mutant B C: Both of them D: Neither of them

a) _____ In the presence of tryptophan these cells behave like wild-type cells. b) _____ In the absence of tryptophan these cells behave like wild-type cells. c) _____ These cells are able to synthesize tryptophan.
d) _____ These cells are able to break down tryptophan.

e) _____ Tryptophan is able to act as an inducer in these cells.
f) _____ Tryptophan is able to act as a corepressor in these cells.
g) _____ The structural genes of the trp operon can be transcribed in these cells.
h) _____ In the presence of tryptophan RNA polymerase binds to the promoter of the trp operon in these cells.
i) _____ In the absence of tryptophan RNA polymerase binds to the promoter of the trp operon in these cells.
j) _____ These cells die if tryptophan is omitted from their medium.
k) _____ These mutants can be ââcuredââ by expressing wild-type trp repressor in them.
l) _____ These mutants can be ââcuredââ by transforming them with a wild-type trp operator.

A theoretical operon (amo) in E. coli contains several structural genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of a particular amino acid. Unlike the lac operon, in which the repressor gene is separate from the operon itself, for the amo operon, the repressor gene is found within the operon itself. When the end product amino acid is present, it binds to the repressor, and this complex binds to the operator, repressing the operon. In the absence of the amino acid, the repressor fails to bind to the operator, and transcription proceeds. Characterize this operon, comparing it to the regulation of the lac and trp operons. Be sure to discuss how regulation is affected by having the repressor gene as part of the operon.

Then, consider the following mutations:

a) Mutation in the operator region;

b) Mutation in the promoter region;

c) Mutation in the repressor gene.

In each case, state whether the operon will be transcribed or not, and describe how the mutation affects the regulation of the operon. Compare each response to the equivalent situation in the lac and trp operons.

1. What is the term when the product of a biochemical pathway inhibits the activity of the first enzyme of a pathway?

		feedback inhibition.
		activator inhibition.
		diffusional regulation.
		enzyme activation.

2. Through control of gene expression, prokaryotes respond to changing __________ conditions.

		internal
		protein
		environmental
		genetic

3. A protein that negatively regulates transcription by binding to the operator is known as the

		operon
		repressor
		activator
		inducer

4. During attenutation, when tryptophan levels are high, the ________ stem-loop forms and transcription ________ the trpL gene.

		1-2, ends just past
		3-4, ends just past
		1-2, continues beyond
		3-4, continues beyond

5. The process of turning on the expression of a gene in response to a substance in the environment is called:

		constituation.
		repression.
		induction.
		catabolism.

6. What is a function of some specific transcription factors?

		to bind to the promoter region of the gene to facilitate the proper alignment of the RNA polymerase
		to bind to the centromere to induce meiosis
		to bind to enhancer regions to help regulate gene transcription
		to bind to the operator to recruit sigma factor

7. How does exposing an E.coli cell to glucose affect the regulation of the lac operon via CAP?

		cAMP binds to CAP and transcription is increased.
		cAMP binds to CAP and transcription is decreased.
		cAMP does not bind to CAP and transcription is increased.
		cAMP does not bind to CAP and transcription is decreased.

8. The lac repressor protein works when mutations in the repressor gene and structural genes are:

		in cis or in trans.
		in trans only.
		in cis only.
		in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

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Biochemistry 2280A Lecture : Trp Operon

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