BIOL 211 CELLULAR AND ORGANISMAL BIOLOGY
Lecture Outline for
Topic: gene regulation
Chapter 13 sections 13.1
Figures used in lecture: 13.3, 13.4, 13.5
Additional resources:
Key Terms
constituitive genes, inducible genes, operon, promoter,
operator, structureal genes, inducer, repressor, beta-galactosidase, lactose
permease, transacetylase
To express all of the genes of a cell all of the time would
be a waste of valuable energy. Therefore, the expression of genes is regulated.
Many genes are only transcribed and translated when their protein product is
required in the cell.
You should be able to:
1. Describe the
general structure of an operon including the location of regulatory sequences
and structural genes.
2. Describe the state
of the lac operon when the cell is
using glucose as an energy source. You
can describe the state of the lac
operon by answering the following questions:
Is the lac I gene
being expressed to produce the repressor protein?
Is the inducer present?
Will the repressor bind to the operator? Why or why not?
If the repressor binds to the operator, will the structural
genes be transcribed?
If the structural genes are transcribed and translated, what
enzymes are produced and what are their functions?
3. Describe the state
of the lac operon when the cell is
using lactose as an energy source.
Ask yourself all of the same questions listed in #2 above.
Gene Regulation
genes are transcribed and translated to produce the protein
product or they remain inactive.
Constituitive genes –
Inducible genes -
Operon -
lac Operon
- inducible gene system
- lac = lactose
- allows bacterial cells to use lactose as an energy source
Regulatory Sequences
Promoter -
Operator -
Structural genes produce 3 enzymes:
1. β-galactosidase –
2. permease –
3. transacetylase –
Repressor –
Fig. 13.3b
lac Operon When
glucose is present…
- bacterial cells prefer glucose
- lac operon is not expressed
- repressor protein - binds to the operator to block transcription of the structural genes
Fig. 13.3c
lac Operon When
lactose is used…
- an inducer binds to the repressor
- shape of the repressor changes
- repressor can no longer bind to the operator
- transcription of structural genes
- inducer = lactose