Gene expression in prokaryotes

Genetic expression is the process by which inheritable information from a gene, such as the DNA sequence, is made into a functional gene product, such as protein or RNA Non-protein coding genes (e.g. rRNA genes, tRNA genes) are transcribed, but not translated into protein

Group of organisms lacking a cell nucleus or any other membrane-bound organelles. Differ from the eukaryotes, which have a cell nucleus Mode of division is binary fission

Prokaryotes exhibit efficient genetic mechanisms to respond to environmental conditions

Rod-Shaped Bacterium, Escherichia coli dividing by binary fission

Rod-Shaped Bacterium, hemorrhagic E. coli, strain

Positive

More gene product (Induction) Effect of activator/inducer Less gene product (Repression) Effect of repressor More gene product (Derepression) Effect of inhibitor upon repressor

Negative

Double Negative

Type A

Type B

Type C

Inducible gene
Regulated by inducer/activator

Constitutive gene
Not subjected to regulation

Control at the level of transcription

Induction - the production of a specific enzyme/s in response to the presence of a substrate Repression - the cessation of production of a specific enzyme/s in response to an increased level of a substrate

All of the genes which encode the enzymes necessary for the pathway are found next to each other on the E. coli chromosome
A single mRNA carries information for multiple proteins This type of mRNA is called a polycistronic mRNA and is totally unique to prokaryotes

An operon model is a self-regulating series of genes found on DNA that work in concert It includes a special segment of genes that are regulators of the protein synthesis, but do not code for protein, called the promoter and operator regions

Lactose (Lac), Tryptophan (Trp), L-Arabinose (Ara)

Inducible system Three genes part of an operon that code for three separate enzymes Needed for the breakdown of lactose, a simple sugar

Lac Operon Gene

Gene function

Lac I Lac Z Lac Y Lac A Promoter or P Operator or O

Constitutive gene synthesizing repressor constantly Gene for -galactosidase subunit Gene for Permease subunit Gene for Thiogalactoside transacetylase subunit RNA polymerase binding & initiator of transcription Repressor binding site

Lac I

Promoter Operator gene gene

RNA polymerase

Lac Z

Lac Y

Lac A

Translation & Transcription Desired product

R
Repressor tetramer
Inactive repressor

Lac I

Promoter Operator gene gene

RNA polymerase

Lac Z

Lac Y

Lac A

Translation & Transcription

No Gene Expressio n

Lac I

Promoter Operator gene gene

RNA polymerase

Lac Z

Lac Y

Lac A

mRNA

No Gene Expressio n
R R

R R

Repressor molecules

Repressor tetramer

Lactose absent

Lac I

Promoter Operator gene gene

RNA polymerase

Lac Z

Lac Y

Lac A

mRNA

galactosidas e
Inducer

mRNA

Lactose/ Isopropyl Thiogalactosid e (IPTG) present

R R

R R

R
Permease Thiogalactoside transacetylase Inactive repressor

If there occurs no glucose metabolism Glucose & Lactose present

No transcription of ZYA genes

Glucose cAMP level

Promoter not identified

Lac Operon repressed

No CAPcAMP complex

No Gene Expressio n

CAP

If there occurs glucose metabolism

cAMP Promoter gene RNA polymerase Glucose pool gets depleted due to metabolism Operator gene cAMP Lac Y Lac A

Lac I

Lac Z

-galactosidase

Permease

mRNA

CAP-cAMP complex formed

Thiogalactoside transacetylase

IR

Trp Operon Model

P/O Trp L Trp E Trp D Trp C
Trp B

Trp A

Trp Operon Gene P/O Trp L Trp E Trp D Trp C Trp B Trp A

Gene function Promoter; operator sequence is found in the promoter Leader sequence; attenuator (A) sequence is found in the leader Gene for anthranilate synthetase subunit Gene for anthranilate synthetase subunit Gene for glycerol-phosphate synthetase Gene for tryptophan synthetase subunit Gene for tryptophan synthetase subunit

Anthranil ate synthetas e

Anthranil ate synthetas e

Glycerolphosphate synthetase

Tryptopha n synthetas e (B protein)

Tryptophan synthetase (A protein)

1. L-arabinose operon model 2. Controlled by a dual positive and negative system

3. 3 structural genes: araB, araA, and araD

4. Encode the metabolic enzymes for breaking down arabinose for further metabolism via the HMP Shunt pathway