2 Types of Operon System of Genetics Advantages of Gene Regulation 26/04/2017, 10*38 AM

2 Types of Operon System of

Genetics Advantages of Gene
Regulation
An operon is a part of genetic material (or DNA) which acts as a single
regulated unit having one or more structural genes, an operator gene, a
promoter gene, a regulator gene, a repressor and an inducer or corepressor
(from outside). Operator, promoter and regulator genes constitute the
regulatory region.

Operon systems are common in prokarytoes. The first operon l-operon

was discovered by Jacob and Monad (1961). Later on a number of such
operons were discovered, e.g., trp -operon, ara -operon, his operon, vol -
operon. Operons are of two types, inducible and repressible.

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Image Courtesy :
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Lac_operon-2010-21-
01.png

Inducible Operon System Lac Operon (Fig 6.34):

An inducible operon system is a regulated unit of genetic material which is

switched on in response to the presence of a chemical. It consists of the
following parts:

Structural Genes:

They are those genes which actually synthesise mRNAs. An mRNA controls
metabolic activity of cytoplasm through the formation of protein or enzyme

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over the ribosomes. An operon has one or more structural genes. The
lactose or lac-operon of Escherichia coli contains three structural genes (Z,
Y, A).

They transcribe a poiycistronic mRNA molecule that helps in the synthesis

of three enzymesP-galactosidase for hydrolysing lactose or galactoside,
lactose or galactoside permease for allowing entry of lactose from outside
and thiogalactoside acetylase or transacetylase for metabolising toxic
thiogalactosides which are also allowed entry by lactose permease.

The three enzymes are, however, produced in different molar

concentration. A very low level of expression of lac- operon and
consequently its enzymes is always present. Initial entry of lactose into
bacterium would occur only due to this activity.

Operator Gene:

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It is a gene which directly controls the synthesis of mRNAs over the

structural genes. It is switched off by the presence of a repressor. An
inducer can take away the repressor and switch on the gene. The gene then
directs the structural genes to transcribe. Operator gene of lac operon is
made of only 27 base pairs.

Promoter Gene:

It acts as an initiation signal which functions as recognition centre for

RNA-polymerase provided the operator gene is switched on. RNA
polymerase is bound to the promoter gene. When the operator gene is
functional, the polymerase moves over it and reaches the structural genes
to perform transcription.

Regulator Gene (lac i-Gene):

In lac-operon, it is called i -gene because it produces an inhibitor or

repressor. The repressor binds to operator gene and stops the working of
the latter. It exerts a negative control over the working of structural genes.

Repressor:

It is regulator protein synthesised all the time (constitutively) by the regu-

lator i -gene. Repressor is meant for blocking the operator gene so that the
structural genes are unable to form mRNAs. It has two allosteric sites, one
for attaching to operator gene and second for binding to inducer.

After coming in contact with inducer the repressor undergoes

conformational change in such a way that it is unable to combine with
operator. The repressor of lactose or lac-operon is a protein having a
molecular weight of 160,000. It is made up of four subunits, each having
molecular weight of 40,000.

Inducer:

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It is a chemical (substrate, hormone or some other metabolite) which after

coming in contact with the repressor, changes the latter into non-DNA
binding state so as to free the operator gene. The inducer for lac-operon of
Escherichia coli is lactose (actually allolactose, or metabolite of lactose).

CAP:

It is activator called catabolic activator protein. It exerts a positive control

in lac- operon because in its absence RNA polymerase is unable to
recognise promoter gene. Its gene is located away from the operon but the
receptor CAP site occurs near the lac promoter. CAP activates lac genes
only when glucose is absent.

RNA polymerase is recognised by promoter gene. It passes over the freed

operator gene and then catalyses transcription of mRNAs over the
structural genes. The mRNAs pass into the cytoplasm and form particular
proteins or enzymes. Out of the three enzymes produced by lac-operon,
lactose-permease is meant for bringing lactose inside the Cell. -
galactosidase (= lactase) breaks lactose into two components, glucose and
galactose. The enzyme like lactase or (3-galactosidase which is formed in
response to the presence of its substrate is often called inducible or
adaptive enzyme.

Inducible operon systems generally occur in catabolic pathways. The lac-

operon will not, however, remain operative indefinitely despite presence of
lactose in the external environment.

It will stop its activity with the accumulation of glucose and galactose in
the cell beyond the capacity of the bacterium for their metabolism. Lac -
operon is also under control of positive regulation.

Repressible Operon System (Fig. 6.35):

Repressible operon system is commonly found in anabolic pathways. The

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operon is active and the enzymes produced by its structural genes are
normally present in the cell. The functioning of the operon is stopped when
the concentration of an end product crosses a threshold value. An example
of repressible system is tryptophan or trp operon of Escherichia coli. It was
also worked out by Jacob and Monod and consists of the following:

Structural Genes:

The genes are connected to transcription of mRNAs. The mRNAs translate

their coded information in the synthesis of polypeptides. Polypeptides give
rise to proteinaceous substances including enzymes. Tryptophan operon
has five structural genes trp E, D, , B, A. They form enzymes for five
steps of tryptophan synthesis.

Operator Gene:

It controls the functioning of structural genes. Normally it is kept switched

on because the aporepressor produced by regulator gene is unable to
completely block operator gene. The operator gene is switched off when a
corepressor is available alongwith aporepressor.

Promoter Gene:

It is the site for initial binding of RNA-polymerase. The latter travels from
promoter gene to structural genes provided operator gene is switched on.

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Other Regulatory Region Components:

Two components of regulatory region occur between operator gene and

structural gene E. They are leader sequence (L) and attenuator (A). The
leader sequence is involved in controlling attenuator. Attenuator helps in
reducing tryptophan synthesis when it is present in sufficient amount
without switching off the operon.

Regulator Gene (trp R):

It forms a proteinaceous component for possible blocking the activity of

operator gene. Regulator gene of tryptophan operon lies at a distance away
from the remaining operon.

Aporepressor:

It is a proteinaceous substance synthesised by regulator gene.

Aporepressor forms a component of repressor for blocking the working of
operator gene. For this it requires a corepressor. When the latter is not
available in proper strength, the operator gene is kept switched on because
by itself, aporepressor is unable to block the working of operator gene.

Corepressor:

It is a nonproteinaceous component of repressor which is also an end

product of reactions catalysed by enzymes produced through the activity of
structural genes. The end product is often utilized in some other reaction
so that it rarely accumulates and hence does not function as corepressor.

However, whenever it accumulates or becomes available from outside

source, the end product becomes corepressor, combines with aporepressor,
forms repressor and blocks the operator gene.

The structural genes now stop transcription. The phenomenon is known as

feed-back repression. It exerts a negative control. In tryptophan operon,

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tryptophan (an amino acid) functions as corepressor.

Differences between Induction and Repression:

Induction:

1. It is the switching on of an operon which normally remains turned off.

2. Induction is caused by a new substrate which is to be handled and

metabolised.

3. It is generally connected with a catabolic pathway.

4. The regulator gene of an operon, liable to undergo induction, produces a

repressor that blocks the operator gene.

5. Induction is the removal of the repressor of an operon by the inducer

metabolite.

6. Inducer is substrate, hormone or its byproduct.

7. It brings about transcription and translation.

Repression:

1. It is turning off of an operon which normally remains switched on.

2. Repression is caused by increased formation or availability of a

metabolite.

3. Repression is mostly connected with an anabolic pathway.

4. The regulator gene of an operon, liable to undergo repression, produces

a part of the repressor called aporepressor. The same cannot block the
operator gene.

5. Repression is the blocking of the operator gene of operon through a

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complex repressor that is formed by union of aporepressor formed by

regulator gene and corepressor which is actually a product of anabolic
pathway.

6. Repressor is a compound formed by an aporepressor and a corepressor

which is commonly an end product of metabolic pathway.

7. Repression stops transcription and translation.

Advantages of Gene Regulation:

1. A number of related genes required for a particular metabolic activity

can be switched on or off simultaneously.

2. Gene regulation enables the cell to adjust metabolism as per

requirement of environmental changes and development.

3. It is economical as it synthesises enzymes only when required.

4. Gene regulation helps in growth and differentiation.

5. It is helpful in smooth completion of chain reactions.

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