Trp Operon Mutations

Assignment
by Lubna A

Submission date: 3- May- 2018 3:00PM (UT C- 0400)

Submission ID: 867024550
File name: Trp_ Operon_Mutations_Assignment_1_LAA.docx (53.0K)
Word count : 537
Character count : 3587
 Trp Operon Mutations

Assignment #1

Lubna Aldohan Aboudaba

May 3, 2018

Submitted to: Mr. C. Murphy

Virtual High School

PURPOS

Qua
 1. How does gene regulation involving the trp repressor protein differ from what you
observed with the lac repressor in the previous lesson? (2 points)

The lac repressor protein differs due to its protein becoming very active after being
synthesized from its regulatory genes. As a result, it will bind to the operator site directly and
the lac operon is then turned “off” until lactose is present (Virtual, 2018). Whereas, the trp
repressor protein is essentially inactive and does not hinder the trp operon unless tryptophan
proteins are of abundance within the cell. Thus, evidently once the lac repressor protein
begins functioning immediately after it has been produced. However, the trp repressor protein
only becomes functional under the conditions of excess tryptophan molecules (Khan, 2018).
Although, both operons are able to make similar repressors effectively, their functionalities
differ in their ability of repressions. Since lac repressor is controlled by lactose, does not have
the final product of lac operon. While the end product of trp operon is known as tryptophan
and which participates in its own repressions.

2. Based on your understanding of gene regulation in the cell and the function of
the trp operon, describe how this process would be affected if there was a mutation in
the operator region so that the operator could not carry out its function. (4 points)

If there was a mutation in the operator region so that the operator could not carry out its
function it would result to an inability to bin to the operator site (Virtual, 2018). Despite, that
there is an abundant repressor protein, the trp operon would be required to continue and
transcribe a series of genes into RNA transcripts (Khan, 2018). This would negatively affect
the cell’s metabolism as energies and raw materials would be wasted, thus affecting all the
other pivotal cell processes.

3. What would be the result in this process of a genetic mutation that altered the shape of
the trp repressor protein? (4 points)

The result of a genetic mutation that is altered due to the shape of the trp repressor protein
would cause the inability to bind with tryptophan effectively which results in an excess
amount of tryptophan to be created. This is due to the fact that the repressor is not able to
bind with the operator causing a RNA polymerase to continuously bind to the promoter
synthesizing more tryptophan (Khan, 2018). Therefore, if there is a mutation that alerted the
shape of the trp repressor protein, then the possibility of the allosteric shape might change,
making it challenging for a tryptophan molecule, corepressor to combine together.
Tryptophan acts as a corepressor, due to the trp repressor which requires to be bounded to the
tryptophan in order to have any effect on its operator (Virtual, 2018). Thus, tryptophan would
lose it ability to control its own gene repression making the cells produce more excess
tryptophan molecules.
 References

Khan, Academy. (2018). The lac operon. Gene regulation. Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/gene-regulation/gene-regulation-in-

bacteria/a/the-lac-operon

Khan, Academy. (2018). The trp operon. Gene regulation. Retrieved from

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/biology/gene-regulation/gene-regulation-in-

bacteria/a/the-trp-operon

Virtual, High. (2018). Trp Operon Mutations Assignment. Retrieved from

https://lms.virtualhighschool.com/d2l/le/content/61623/Home