•#U~il;Ud•i 1·iiMaii;iiilM4=tMii

o. rryptophon
E D C
f\

H,
.,; u~
-J
u I

M1
L1

b. W-llh Tryptophan

Sin.dural Gene A A 0 G 0
RNA Polymerase mRNA for Enzyme 2 M 0
SlrudumrGenes B 0 mRNA for Repres50r Protein H 0 mRNA for Enzyme 3 N 0
S4ructuraiGenec C 0 Ribosome I 0 Enzyme I 0
L1
~Region D 0 Repre5$0r Protein J 0 Enzyme 2 Ml 0
"l'OrnolerRegion E 0 Tryplophan K 0 Enzyme 3 Nl 0
~Gene F 0 mRNA for Enzyme 1 L 0
JJ5

GENE
REGULATION
(TRYPTOPHAN)
The preyious plo1e discussed the activity of the lac operon,
which is a group of genes that work together to regula1e a gene
expression. Here we examine the operon that controls the syn·
thesis al the amino acid hyptophon. This operon is kna.vn as the
trp operon.
Looking aver the pla1e, you will notice that we examine
a series of genes and their operations in the presence
and absence of hyptopnan. We will show how the
enzymes that participa1e in the synthesis of t,yptophan
are produced when t,yptophan is needed but disappear
when t,yptophan is available.
Escherichia coli, a bacterium that's abundant in the colon
synthesizes t,yptophan, on essential amino acid. E. coli use;
I;.., enzymes in its production of t,yptophan. We will discuss the
regulation of the synthesis of three of these.
The operon involved in the synthesis of the three t,yptophan
enzymes is shown in the plote. The three structural genes
A, I, and C (A, I, C) provide the genetic codes for these
enzymes. Adjooent lo the structural genes is a region coiled the
operator region (D), which turns the structural genes on
and off. To the !eh of the operator is a region of DNA coiled the
promoter region (E), The enzyme RNA polymerase (G)
binds lo the promoler ond is involved in the synthesis of mRNA.
Farther down the chromosome ond somewhat remcried from the
other portions of the trp operon is the regulator gene (F).
Having described the genes involved in the trp operon,
we will now see how they work together in the absence
of hyplophan. Continue your coloring as you rood
I below. The same colors used in the previous plate moy
·I be used in this one.
B
4 The first diagram shows the mechanism of gene regulation
when lryplophan (K) is needed by the cell. Transcription tokes
,l
I
place at the regulotor gene !Fl and o strond of mRNA (H) is
produced. We see this strand complexed with its ribosome (I).
Translation of this mRNA strand produces o repreuor protein
(J).
The repressor prolein hos no effect on th
on because it cannot bind to them Therefo e genes of 1/,0 ,,._
. bl .
(G) 1s a lo move down post the operator {D
re,RNA L .,,...
po,,.,.,,~
ore transcribed and this results in transcribed stro~dThese Ilene,
fram enzymes I, 2, and 3 (L, M N) Th sof rn~
' • ese mRNA
ecuIes ore tronsloled, and the bacierium hos the en . !tol-
lo synthesize hyplophon (L 1, M,, N,J,
As we mentioned, these three enzymes ore
Iymes 1tnee<1,
th
used in the synthesis of hyptophon {K). Note thoto'mothng • Ii,,
· ed by the absence '"f lryp15 mocha·
· th e lrp operon ·IS octivot
n1Sm,
O
while in the lac operon, activation occurs in th lopl,,,,
lactose. e presence al
We now move lo the second half of the plate and exam•
ine gene regulation in the presence of t,yptophan. You
will that_ enzyme synthesis shuts down when trypto-
phon II avo,lable. Gene regulation occurs to control on
unnecessary output of enzymes.
In the lower portion of the plate, we again see the structural
genes A, B, ond C, and the operolor {D), the promoter {El, and
the regulator gene IF). As before, the regulator gene is being
transcribed lo an mRNA molecule IH). At the ribosome II), the
repressar protein !JI is being produced.
But the situation is slighrly different in this case; t,yplophan is
abundant in the cellular environment. A t,yptophan molecule (Kl
unites w,th the repressar protein fJJ, which allows the tryplophon·
repressar complex {J-KJ lo change its structure and lock itself into
position at the operator {DJ. The complex blocks the poth of the
enzyme RNA polymerase IGJ at the promoter IE), and RNA poly-
merase cannot transcribe the structural genes. Thus, no mRNA is
mode, and the enzymes necessary for the synthesis of hyplophan
ore not produced.
It makes biochemical sense lo refrain from producing these
enzymes when tryptophan is already abundant in the cell's envi-
ronment, and is yet another example of biochemical efficiency.
In this cose, tryplophan is referred lo as a corepressor since it
enables th e repressor protein lo block the synthesis of e~zymes.
When the lryplop_h~n from the environment is used up, the
t,yptophan·synthe51zsng enzymes are once again synthesized.