Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections
Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections
15th Edition
ISBN: 9781269952378
Author: Jane Reese, Martha Taylor, Eric Simon, Jean Dickey, Kelly Hogan
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 18, Problem 18.1CR

Compare and contrast the roles of a corepressor and an inducer in negative regulation of an operon.

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Summary Introduction

To compare: The functions of a corepressor and an inducer in negative regulation of an operon.

Introduction: Gene regulation is the process through which the cells control the expression of genes. It controls genes that are expressed to form a specific functional protein depending on the cell type. There are mechanisms that control gene expression at different levels.

Explanation of Solution

Operon contains coding DNA sequences, regulatory DNA sequences, and the regulatory proteins. Regulatory proteins act as both activators (TURN ON) and repressors (TURN OFF) of genes.

The similarities between corepressor and an inducer in negative regulation of an operon are as follows:

  • Both are small molecules that bind to the repressor protein present in an operon, causing the repressor to change its shape.

The differences between the roles of a corepressor and an inducer in negative regulation of an operon are as follows:

CharacteristicsCorepressorInducer
Role in negative regulation of an operon

A corepressor binds to the repressor protein, activates it to bind to the operator, and thereby inhibits transcription.

For example, tryptophan acts as a corepressor in a trp operon.

The binding of an inducer to the repressor protein makes it inactive and allows transcription of operon genes.

For example, allolactose acts as an inducer in lac operon and binds to the lac repressor; hence, it cannot bind to the operator.

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Students have asked these similar questions
Describe the difference between a repressible and an inducible operon.
One way that regulation is often studied is by examining the effects of mutations. For example, mutations within the parts of the lac operon have been well studied. Which of these mutants would be considered a constitutive mutant (the operon is always on)? a mutation in CAP that prevents the binding of CAMP a mutation in one of the structural genes that prevents the transport of lactose into the cell a mutation that disables the promoter for the operon a mutation that disables the repressor
Describe how the components of the trp operon system are affected by a mutation in trpC?  Why is it that once enviornmental tryptophan is inserted into the cell, only the trp repressor is activated (turned on)?

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Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections

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