In: Biology
A mutation prevents expression of the CAP protein. Will the Lac operon be expressed when lactose levels are high and glucose levels are low? Explain your reasoning.
When the level of glucose is high in the medium, the amount of cAMP is less. This prevents the formation of CAP cAMP complex. CAP cAMP complex binds to promoter so, that lac operon can be expressed. In the presence of glucose and absence of CAP cAMP complex, the operon does not express itself.
When the concentration of glucose decreases, lactose increases, the concentration of cAMP also increases. This leads to the formation of CAP cAMP complex. This binds to promoter and initiate the expression of lac operon.
But if CAP protein is not expresses inside the cell (as per the question), than CAP cAMP complex will not be formed. Without this complex, there will be no expression of lac operon even if lactose levels are high in the medium.
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