Concept explainers
List possible genotypes for lacoperon haploids that have the following phenotypic characteristics:
a. The operon genes are constitutively transcribed, but the strain is unable to grow on a lactose medium. List two possible genotypes for this
b. The operon genes are never transcribed above a basal level, and the strain is unable to grow on a lactose medium. List two possible genotypes for this phenotype.
c. The operon genes are inducibly transcribed, but the strain is unable to grow on a lactose medium. List one possible genotype for this phenotype.
d. The operon genes are constitutively transcribed, and the strain grows on lactose medium. List two possible genotypes for this phenotype.
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Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach (3rd Edition)
- A strain of E. coli has the genotypes shown below at the lac operon, where I = regulator gene, P = promoter, O = operator, Z = βgalactosidase gene, and Y = permease gene. The superscript+ indicates a wild-type allele,c indicates a constitutive mutation, and− indicates a defective mutation. For each genotype, indicate whether the enzyme will be synthesized or not synthesized when lactose is present or absent by placing a + for synthesis occurring and a − for synthesis not occurring in the appropriate blank. Explain your reasoning for each answer.arrow_forwardSuppose you have six strains of E. coli. One is wildtype, and each of the other five has a single one of thefollowing mutations: lacZ−, lacY−, lacI−, oc, andlacIS. For each of these six strains, describe thephenotype you would observe using the following assays. [Notes: (1) IPTG is a colorless synthetic molecule that acts as an inducer of lac operon expressionbut cannot serve as a carbon source for bacterialgrowth because it cannot be cleaved byβ-galactosidase; (2) X-gal cannot serve as a carbonsource for growth; (3) E. coli requires active lactosepermease (the product of lacY) to allow lactose,X-gal, or IPTG into the cells.] Colony color in medium containing glycerol as theonly carbon source and X-gal, but no IPTG.d. Colony color in medium containing high levels ofglucose as the only carbon source, X-gal, andIPTG.e. Colony color in medium containing high levels ofglucose as the only carbon source and X-gal, butno IPTGarrow_forward. Suppose you have six strains of E. coli. One is wildtype, and each of the other five has a single one of thefollowing mutations: lacZ−, lacY−, lacI−, oc, andlacIS. For each of these six strains, describe thephenotype you would observe using the following assays. [Notes: (1) IPTG is a colorless synthetic molecule that acts as an inducer of lac operon expressionbut cannot serve as a carbon source for bacterialgrowth because it cannot be cleaved byβ-galactosidase; (2) X-gal cannot serve as a carbonsource for growth; (3) E. coli requires active lactosepermease (the product of lacY) to allow lactose,X-gal, or IPTG into the cells.]a. Growth on medium in which the only carbonsource was lactose.b. Colony color in medium containing glycerol as theonly carbon source, X-gal, and IPTGarrow_forward
- The map of the lac operon is shown below. Consider the following examples that include both haploids and partial diploids and explain in each scenario whether the repressor can bind and regulate expression and whether or not the lac operon is expressed. For partial diploids the plasmid is indicated by the F’. I+ O+ Z+ Y+ / F’ I+ O+ Z+ Y+ I- O+ Z+ Y+ / F’ I+ O+ Z+ Y+ I- O+ Z+ Y+ I+ Oc Z+ Y+arrow_forwardGive all possible genotypes of a lac operon that produces, or fails to produce, β-galactosidase and permease under the following conditions. Do not give partial-diploid genotypes. Lactose absent Lactose present β-Galactosidase Permease β-Galactosidase Permease a. − − + + b. − − − + c. − − + − d. + + + + e. − − − − f. + − + − g. − + − +arrow_forwardFor each of the E. coli strains containing lac operon alleles listed, indicate whether the strain is inducible, constitutive, or unable to express beta-galactosidase and permease. (P+ and P- are functional and nonfunctional promoters, respectively) I+ P+ o+ Z- Y+ / I+ P+ oc Z+ Y+ I+ P+ o+ Z+ Y+ / I- P+ oc Z+ Y- I+ P+ o+ Z- Y+ / I- P+ oc Z+ Y- I- P- o+ Z+ Y- / I+ P+ oc Z- Y+ IS P+ o+ Z+ Y+ / I- P+ o+ Z+ Y-arrow_forward
- A lac operon containing one mutation was cloned into a plasmid, which was introduced by transformation into a bacterium containing a wild-type lac operon. The three genes of the chromosomal operon were rendered noninducible in the presence of the plasmid. (a) What kind of mutation in the plasmid operon could have this effect? (b) Suppose the result of transformation was to cause the three plasmid lac genes to be expressed constitutively, at a high level. What type of plasmid gene mutation could have this result?arrow_forwardWhich of the following describes the lac operon in E. coli when lactose and glucose is present in the culture medium? Select one: a. CAP inactive and RNA polymerase does not completely bind to the promoter of the lac operon and transcription of lactose-metabolizing enzymes decreases. b. CAP is active and RNA polymerase binds completely to the promoter of the lac operon and transcription of lactose-metabolizing enzymes decreases. c. Catabolite activator protein (CAP) inactive and RNA polymerase does not completely bind to the promoter of the lac operon and transcription of lactose-metabolizing enzymes increases. d. CAP is active and RNA polymerase binds completely to the promoter of the lac operon and transcription of lactose-metabolizing enzymes increases.arrow_forwardA mutant strain of E. coli has a premature stop mutation in the lacZgene, resulting in a non-functional b-galactosidase. Otherwise, all other parts of the operon are functional. Which component of an F' plasmid will restore normal regulation and function of the lac operon in the resulting partial diploid?arrow_forward
- You have isolated different mutants (reg1 and reg2) causing constitutive expression of the emu operon (which has genes emu1 and emu2). One mutant contains a defect in a DNA-binding site, and the other has a loss-of-function defect in the gene encoding a protein that binds to the site Say you don’t know which mutant has a defect in the site and which one has a mutation in the binding protein. To figure it out, you construct the two partial diploid strains (i and ii below), and you then assay the levels of the Emu1 and Emu2 proteins in these two strains. F’ (reg1- reg2+ emu1- emu2+) / reg1+ reg2+ emu1+ emu2- F’ (reg1+ reg2- emu1- emu2+) / reg1+ reg2+ emu1+ emu2- What proteins do you predict will be expressed for strains i and ii if reg2 encodes the regulatory protein and reg1 is the regulatory site?arrow_forwardIf the above gene is one of the three structural genes of the lac operon that codes for the protein/ enzyme responsible for breaking lactose into two molecules of simple sugars, what triggers the activation of this gene? a. Absence of Inhibitory protein b. Presence of lactose c. Absence of lactose d. Presence of Inhibitory protein e. Absence of Regulatory proteinarrow_forwardA marine bacterium is isolated and shown to contain an inducible operon whose genetic products metabolize oil when it is encountered in the environment. Investigation demonstrates that the operon is under positive control and that there is a reg gene whose product interacts with an operator region (o) to regulate the structural genes, designated sg. In an attempt to understand how the operon functions, a constitutive mutant strain and several partial diploid strains were isolated and tested with the results shown in the following table. Host Chromosome F= Factor Phenotype Wild type None Inducible Wild type reg gene from mutant strain Inducible Wild type Operon from mutant strain Constitutive Mutant strain reg gene from wild type Constitutive Draw all possible conclusions about the mutation as well as the nature of regulation of the operon. Is the constitutive mutation in the trans-acting reg element or in the cis-acting o operator element?arrow_forward
- Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning