Imagine that a new strain of E. coli is discovered, and it contains the following novel genetic region including the lacI gene and the lac operon: *see image* Upstream of the promoter associated with the lac operon, there is a new operator element "Oν" (O-"nu"). This new operator has high sequence homology to O1, the DNA element that is bound with the highest affinity by the lac repressor. What would be the impact of this new genetic element regarding behavior of the operon in the absence (vs. the presence) of lactose and allolactose? Answer in terms of the protein levels of the lac repressor, as well as the proteins encoded by the genes lacZ/Y/A in the downstream region of the operon. Remember that proteins, once expressed/generated, will not persist forever, and that they have a natural lifetime (ending when they are degraded by the cell).
Gene Interactions
When the expression of a single trait is influenced by two or more different non-allelic genes, it is termed as genetic interaction. According to Mendel's law of inheritance, each gene functions in its own way and does not depend on the function of another gene, i.e., a single gene controls each of seven characteristics considered, but the complex contribution of many different genes determine many traits of an organism.
Gene Expression
Gene expression is a process by which the instructions present in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) are converted into useful molecules such as proteins, and functional messenger ribonucleic (mRNA) molecules in the case of non-protein-coding genes.
Imagine that a new strain of E. coli is discovered, and it contains the following novel genetic region including the lacI gene and the lac operon:
*see image*
Upstream of the promoter associated with the lac operon, there is a new operator element "Oν" (O-"nu"). This new operator has high sequence homology to O1, the DNA element that is bound with the highest affinity by the lac repressor.
What would be the impact of this new genetic element regarding behavior of the operon
in the absence (vs. the presence) of lactose and allolactose?
Answer in terms of the protein levels of the lac repressor, as well as the proteins encoded by the genes lacZ/Y/A in the downstream region of the operon. Remember that proteins, once expressed/generated, will not persist forever, and that they have a natural lifetime (ending when they are degraded by the cell).
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