Operons and Gene Regulation

Flashcards covering inducible operons, the lac operon, and gene regulation mechanisms.

Inducible Operon

An operon that is usually turned off but can be activated by an inducer.

Operon

Closely linked genes that produce a single messenger RNA molecule during transcription and are under the control of the same regulatory sequence.

Operator

A sequence that either inhibits or promotes transcription by binding with regulatory proteins.

Lac Operon

An inducible operon that is usually turned off, and its transcription is inhibited when a regulatory protein is bound to the operator region.

Inducers

Molecules that bind to the regulatory protein, causing it to change shape and release from the operator, thus freeing up RNA polymerase to transcribe the operon's genes.

Allolactose

An example of an inducer that binds to the regulatory protein, causing it to change shape and release from the operator.