In: Biology
E. coli cells are growing in a medium containing
lactose but no glucose. Indicate whether each of the following
changes or conditions would increase, decrease, or not change the
expression of the lac operon. For full credit, you must
explain your answer. It may be helpful to draw a model depicting
what is happening in each situation.
(a) Addition of a high concentration of glucose
(b) A mutation that prevents dissociation of the Lac repressor from the operator
(c) A mutation that completely inactivates ?-galactosidase
(d) A mutation that completely inactivates galactoside permease
(e) A mutation that prevents binding of CRP to its binding site near the lac promoter
(a) Addition of a high concentration of glucose
The main carbon source of bacteria is glucose. In the
absence of glucose, the bacteria will depend on other carbon
sources. If the glucose is present in the media, it shifts in to
glucose, it leads to decrease of the gene expression.
(b) A mutation that prevents dissociation of the Lac repressor
from the operator
The RNA polymease can move over the operator, but here
repressor totally binds to operator, so it inhibits the RNA
polymease action by blocking its way, so, it leads to decrease of
the gene expression.
(c) A mutation that completely inactivates ?-galactosidase
?-galactosidase acts only on lactose, the inactiavte b
galactosidase wont cause any effect on gene
expression.
(d) A mutation that completely inactivates galactoside
permease
Galactoside permease increases the permeability of lactose
in the cell. A muation which inactivates it, it blocks the entrance
of lactose in to cell which leads to decrease of the gene
expression.
(e) A mutation that prevents binding of CRP to its binding site
near the lac promoter
In the absence of glucose, CRP enhaces the expression of
lac operon. Here this mutation, leads to decrease of the gene
expression.