Concept explainers
Suppose you are analyzing a haploid E. coli strain and discover that the genes of the lac operon are never transcribed and that the bacteria cannot grow in lactose-containing medium. Provide two possible genotypes for your bacteria that would explain this
To determine: Two possible genotypes for a strain of haploid Escherichia coli bacteria in which the genes of the lac operon are never transcribed and the bacteria cannot grow in the lactose-containing medium.
Introduction: E. coli has a lactose operon, also called the lac operon. It is an inducible operon. This operon helps in the digestion and transportation of lactose. By genetic analysis of the lac operon of E. coli of various mutants, a lot of information has been retrieved.
Explanation of Solution
The lac operon under normal conditions can be represented by the genotype I+P+O+Z+ where the Z product will be expressed in the presence of lactose. The I gene represents the repressor gene, P represents the lac promoter gene, O represents the lac operator gene and the Z gene represents the protein product that is formed.
Two possible genotypes for a strain of haploid E. coli bacteria in which the genes of the lac operon are never transcribed and the bacteria cannot grow in the lactose-containing medium are as follows:
- If the I gene has a mutation such that it shows the suppressor genotype, a repressor will be formed in every case. This repressor will bind to the operator in every case, that is whether a lactose inducer is present or absent. Thus, the transcription of the lac genes are suppressed and will never be transcribed. The genotype of such a strain of bacteria can be represented as IsP+O+Z+.
- If the P gene has a mutation, the promoter will be non-functional. When the promoter is non-functional, the RNA polymerase enzyme will not be able to identify the promoter. Thus, the transcription of the lac genes are suppressed and will never be transcribed. The genotype of such a strain of bacteria can be represented as I+P-O+Z+.
Thus, two possible genotypes for a strain of haploid E. coli bacteria in which the genes of the lac operon are never transcribed and the bacteria cannot grow in the lactose-containing medium are IsP+O+Z+ and I+P-O+Z+.
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Chapter 20 Solutions
Becker's World of the Cell (9th Edition)
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