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Ch. 12 - Regulation of Gene Expression in Bacteria and Bacteriophage
Chapter 12, Problem 2

Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following: allostery

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Allostery refers to the regulation of a protein's function through the binding of an effector molecule at a site other than the protein's active site.
This binding causes a conformational change in the protein, which can either enhance or inhibit its activity.
In the context of transcriptional regulation, allostery often involves regulatory proteins that control gene expression by binding to DNA or interacting with other proteins.
An example of allostery is the lac repressor in the lac operon of E. coli, which undergoes a conformational change upon binding to allolactose, an inducer molecule.
This conformational change reduces the repressor's affinity for the operator region of the lac operon, allowing transcription to proceed.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Allostery

Allostery refers to the regulation of a protein's function through the binding of an effector molecule at a site other than the protein's active site. This binding induces a conformational change in the protein, altering its activity. For example, in the case of the enzyme aspartate transcarbamoylase, the binding of ATP enhances its activity, while the binding of CTP inhibits it, demonstrating how allosteric regulation can fine-tune metabolic pathways.

Operon

An operon is a cluster of genes under the control of a single promoter, which are transcribed together as a single mRNA molecule. This arrangement allows for coordinated regulation of genes that encode proteins with related functions. A classic example is the lac operon in E. coli, which is activated in the presence of lactose and repressed when glucose is available, illustrating how operons can respond to environmental changes.
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Transcriptional Regulation

Transcriptional regulation involves the mechanisms that control the transcription of genes, determining when and how much of a gene product is produced. This regulation can occur through various factors, including transcription factors, enhancers, and silencers that interact with DNA and RNA polymerase. For instance, in eukaryotes, transcription factors can bind to specific DNA sequences to either promote or inhibit the transcription of target genes, thereby influencing cellular function and response.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following: inducer
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Textbook Question
Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following: promoter
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Textbook Question
Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following: positive regulation
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Textbook Question
Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following: negative regulation
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Textbook Question

Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following:

corepressor

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Textbook Question

Transcriptional regulation of operon gene expression involves the interaction of molecules with one another and of regulatory molecules with segments of DNA. In this context, define and give an example of each of the following:

attenuation

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