In: Biology
• What is a structural gene?
• What is a regulatory sequence?
• What is a promoter? What is an operator?
• What are the regulatory GENES and their promoters? What is a
repressor? Are these genes considered
part of the operon? Are they always located next to the genes they
control?
a. A structural gene contains a coding sequence that specifies a protein. It codes for a diffusible product i.e. trans-acting production (RNA/protein)
b. A regulatory sequence is a cis-acting element. It does not code for any diffusible product. However, it regulates the expression of a linked sequence. EX: promoter and operator
c. A promoter is a cis-acting
element that acts in a direction dependent manner. It is the
binding site for RNA polymerase to initiate transcription.
An operator is a cis-acting element that acts in a direction
dependent manner. It is the binding site for repressor protein to
inhibit transcription.
d. Regulatory genes bind to the
cis-elements of other genes and activate/repress their expression.
An activator activates gene expression. A repressor inhibits gene
expression.
These genes are generally located near the operon. However, they
are considered as part of the operon as they are expressed
independently of the operon.