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The Trp Operon definitions Flashcards

The Trp Operon definitions
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  • Tryptophan
    An essential amino acid that cells can absorb or synthesize; it acts as a corepressor in the trp operon, inhibiting its own synthesis when abundant.
  • Amino Acid
    Organic compounds that serve as the monomers of proteins, each containing an amino group, a carboxyl group, and a unique side chain (R group) attached to a central carbon atom.
  • Monomers
    Small molecules that can join together to form larger, complex structures like proteins, nucleic acids, or polysaccharides.
  • Proteins
    Large biomolecules composed of amino acids, essential for cellular structure, function, and regulation, including enzymes, hormones, and antibodies.
  • Trp
    A repressible operon in bacteria that controls the synthesis of tryptophan, turning off gene expression when tryptophan is abundant by using tryptophan as a corepressor to activate the repressor protein.
  • Operon
    A cluster of genes under a single promoter, regulated together, enabling coordinated expression of proteins, often involved in a specific metabolic pathway.
  • Repressible Operon
    A genetic system usually active but can be turned off when a specific molecule binds to a repressor, inhibiting gene transcription.
  • Genes
    Segments of DNA that encode instructions for synthesizing proteins or functional RNA molecules, influencing traits and cellular functions.
  • Enzymes
    Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions by lowering activation energy, crucial for processes like metabolism and DNA replication.
  • Synthesis
    The process of combining simpler molecules to form more complex molecules, often requiring energy and enzymes, as seen in the creation of tryptophan from basic substrates.
  • Operator
    A DNA segment in an operon where a repressor protein binds to inhibit transcription of adjacent genes, regulating gene expression.
  • Regulatory Protein
    A protein that binds to specific DNA sequences to control the transcription of genes, often by activating or repressing the process.
  • Promoter
    A DNA sequence where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription of a gene or operon.
  • RNA Polymerase
    An enzyme that synthesizes RNA from a DNA template during transcription, binding to the promoter region to initiate the process.
  • Regulatory Gene
    A gene that encodes a protein or RNA molecule that regulates the expression of other genes, often by binding to specific DNA sequences and influencing transcription.
  • Repressor Protein
    A protein that binds to an operator sequence in DNA to inhibit transcription, becoming active only when bound by a corepressor, such as tryptophan, to regulate gene expression.
  • Transcription
    The process where RNA polymerase synthesizes RNA from a DNA template, producing a complementary RNA strand, typically mRNA, which carries genetic information for protein synthesis.
  • Corepressor
    A molecule that binds to a repressor protein, activating it to inhibit gene transcription.
  • Cellular Tryptophan
    An essential amino acid absorbed or synthesized by cells, acting as a corepressor to regulate its own synthesis by inhibiting the trp operon when abundant.
  • Environment
    The surroundings and conditions in which an organism lives, including biotic and abiotic factors that influence its survival, development, and evolution.
  • Abundant
    Present in large quantities, often to the extent that it influences biological processes or regulatory mechanisms within an organism.
  • Inactive Form
    A protein state where it cannot bind to DNA or perform its function until activated by a specific molecule, such as a corepressor.
  • Active Form
    The form of a protein that can bind to DNA and inhibit gene transcription, often requiring a corepressor to become functional.
  • Transcription Inhibition
    The process by which a repressor protein, often activated by a corepressor, binds to an operator region on DNA, preventing RNA polymerase from transcribing specific genes.
  • Energy
    The capacity to perform work or produce change, often measured in joules or calories, and essential for biological processes like metabolism and cellular functions.
  • Materials
    Substances or components used by cells to perform functions, such as synthesizing molecules, maintaining structures, or facilitating biochemical reactions.