Manatad, Bryan Axel R.

Bio 152-A

Activity 4
Gene Expression and Regulation

QUESTIONS:
1. If the gene above is transcribed into a functional mRNA,
a.) how many codons will be carried by the functional mRNA?
-37 codons
b.) what is the sequence of the 25th codon?
-A A G
c.) what is the sequence of the stop codon?
-U A A

2. If the mRNA transcribed for this gene will be translated into a functional protein,
a.) how many amino acids will be used to build the polypeptide chain?
- 18 amino acids
b.) what is the amino acid coded by the 25th codon?
-Lysine
c.) what is the amino acid coded by the last codon?
- Tryptophan

3. If the above gene is one of the three structural genes of the lac operon that codes for
the protein/ enzyme responsible for breaking lactose into two molecules of simple sugars,
a.) what triggers the activation of this gene?
- The gene is activated by the presence of lactose. Lactose binds to the
repressor protein, detaching it from the operator region of the operon.
b.) what triggers the inactivation of this gene?
-The lac operon is deactivated or repressed by the lac repressor. It
binds to the operator region, which prevents the RNA polymerase
from proceeding to transcription.
c.) what substance is attached to the operator region of the operon in the absence
of activator?
-In the absence of activator, the lac repressor is always bound to the
operator region. They only detach in the presence of allolactose
(isomer of lactose), which signals the presence of lactose and absence
of glucose.
d.) what gene is responsible for the synthesis of the substance used to attach in the
operator region in the absence of activator?
-lacl is the gene that synthesizes lac repressor. It is found near the
operon but not part of it and expressed separately.
e.) what substance is attached to the promoter region of the operon in this case?
- When lac repressor is attacher to the promoter region, RNA
polymerase binds to the promoter region, but cannot continue the
RNA synthesis. When lac repressor detaches, RNA polymerase
synthesizes RNA slowly. The Catabolite activator protein (CAP), then
 binds to the promoter region in the presence of cyclic AMP (cAMP),
and increases RNA polymerase activity.

f.) Complete Table 1, indicating how much (lots, little, none) of the above gene product
would be made given the following mutations:
• Mutation in the operator that reduces the affinity of the operator for the
repressor protein (operator-constitutive mutants = Oc)?
• Mutation in the promoter that reduces the affinity of the promoter for RNA
polymerase (P–)?
• Mutation in the repressor gene such that the protein has lost the ability to bind
allolactose (superrepressor mutant = Is)?
• Mutation in the repressor gene such that the protein has lost the ability to bind
the operator (I–)?
Gene Status +Lactose -Lactose
normal Lots None
Oc Lots Little
P– Little None
IS None None
I– Lots Lots

g.) Why is it adaptive for a bacterium to not express the genes that encode that lactose
utilization proteins when lactose is not available
- Expression of these genes require energy. In the absence of lactose, no
energy source is available (suppose glucose if also unavailable). Additionally,
when glucose is available, the genes are also not expressed. This is because
glucose is easier to (less steps and energy needed) break down than lactose.

h.) Why is it adaptive for the structural genes for using lactose to be under the control
of a single promoter (i.e., synthesize a polycistronic message rather than three
monocistronic messages)?
-In this way, the structural genes can be controlled simultaneously (i.e.
activated and inhibited at the same time. This is adaptive as all three
structural genes will be needed at the same time, or none of them at all.