Chapter 6 - Gene Expression

Activator

Protein that binds to an operator to increase transcription

Operon

Genes in the same pathway that are transcribed together in prokaryotic cells

Epigenetic regulation

Heritable changes that do not involve changes in the DNA sequence

Repressor operon

Operon that is normally being transcribed unless a repressor binds and turns it off

trp operon

A repressor operon that makes the amino acid tryptophan in prokaryotes

Inducer operon

Operon that is not normally transcribed unless an activator turns it on

lac operon

An inducer operon that allows bacteria to digest lactose when glucose is scarce

Repressor

Protein that binds to an operator to decrease transcription

Enhancer

Segment of DNA that increase expression of a gene

Post-transcriptional control

Control of gene expression that occurs between transcription and translation

Transcriptional control

Control of gene expression that occurs at the level of an mRNA being made

Post-translational control

Control of gene expression that occurs after a protein has been made

Translational control

Control of gene expression that occurs at the level of a protein being made

Alternative splicing

Splicing different sets of introns out of a pre-mRNA

Operator

Sequence in an operon that binds to an activator or repressor

Gene expression

Expression of only a subset of the available genes in a particular cell