Scribd
Upload
302 views

ANSWERS Gene Expression and Regulation

The document describes gene expression from DNA to protein, including transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to protein. It provides an example of a DNA sequence with a highlighted gene and questions about transcription and translation of that gene. It also discusses gene regulation via the lac operon, including what triggers activation and inactivation of the operon genes and how mutations might affect expression levels.

Uploaded by

Jhoy Amosco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
302 views

ANSWERS Gene Expression and Regulation

The document describes gene expression from DNA to protein, including transcription of DNA to mRNA and translation of mRNA to protein. It provides an example of a DNA sequence with a highlighted gene and questions about transcription and translation of that gene. It also discusses gene regulation via the lac operon, including what triggers activation and inactivation of the operon genes and how mutations might affect expression levels.

Uploaded by

Jhoy Amosco
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Name: Section:

Objectives

At the end of this activity, you are expected to:


1. describe the mechanisms of gene expression from DNA to RNA to proteins;
2. determine the primary structure of the products of transcription and translation; and
3. demonstrate gene regulation via an operon.

OVERVIEW

A gene is a segment of DNA responsible for the characteristic traits of organism. The genes
can be expressed into physical traits only if their nucleotide sequences can be transcribed into
functional mRNAs completely and then the mRNAs are then translated into functional
products or proteins. Sometimes proteins can be manufactured abundantly and sometimes
they are not depending on metabolic/physiologic demands. The “switching on or off” of the
genes is the function of gene regulation mechanisms.

Gene expression occurs whenever a specific protein is needed by the cell. This process requires:
 producing a functional mRNA from the DNA template in the nucleus,
 transferring the mRNA to the ribosome, and
 at the ribosome, using the mRNA molecules, along with tRNA molecules, the amino
acids are linked for the correct primary sequence of the desired protein.

N.B.: Transcription proceeds in 5’– 3’ on the DNA template. Ribosomes move in 5’– 3’
along the mRNA beginning in 5’AUG3’ codon.

PROCEDURE

Below is segment of a DNA coding strand (5’–3’) with functional gene highlighted in yellow:

1261 tcgcaactct ctactgtttc tccatacccg tttttttggg ctagaaataa ttttgtttaa


1321 ctttaagaag gagatataca tatggctagc aaaggagaag aacttttcac tggagttgtc
1381 ccaattcttg ttgaattaga tggtgatgtt aatgggcaca aattttctgt cagtggagag
1441 ggtgaaggtg atgctacata cggaaagctt acccttaaat ttatttgcac tactggaaaa
1501 ctacctgttc catggccaac acttgtcact actttctctt atggtgttca atgcttttcc
1561 cgttatccgg atcatatgaa acggcatgac tttttcaaga gtgccatgcc cgaaggttat
1621 gtacaggaac gcactatatc tttcaaagat gacgggaact acaagacgcg tgctgaagtc
1681 aagtttgaag gtgataccct tgttaatcgt atcgagttaa aaggtattga ttttaaagaa
1741 gatggaaaca ttctcggaca caaactcgag tacaactata actcacacaa tgtatacatc
1801 acggcagaca aacaaaagaa tggaatcaaa gctaacttca aaattcgcca caacattgaa
1861 gatggatccg ttcaactagc agaccattat caacaaaata ctccaattgg cgatggccct
1921 gtccttttac cagacaacca ttacctgtcg acacaatctg ccctttcgaa agatcccaac
1981 gaaaagcgtg accacatggt ccttcttgag tttgtaactg ctgctgggat tacacatggc
2041 atggatgagc tctacaaata atgaattcga gctcggtacc cggggatcct ctagagtcga
2101 cctgcaggca tgcaagcttg gctgttttgg cggatgagag aagattttca gcctgataca

1
QUESTIONS:

1. If the gene above is transcribed into a functional mRNA,

a.) how many codons will be carried by the functional mRNA?

30
b.) what is the sequence of the 25th codon?

SgrAI 1-5307 (5307 bp), 5308-5371 (64 bp)


c.) what is the sequence of the stop codon?
GFP (0 - 695)

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?

17

b.) what is the amino acid coded by the 25th codon?

Run-on oligomer filament enzyme

c.) what is the amino acid coded by the last codon?

Restriction Enzyme

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 catabolite activator protein

b.) what triggers the inactivation of this gene?

The lac repressor

c.) what substance is attached to the operator region of the operon in the absence of
activator?

Lactose
d.) what gene is responsible for the synthesis of the substance used to attach in the
operator region in the absence of activator?

RNA Polymerase
e.) what substance is attached to the promoter region of the operon in this case?

Glucose
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

Oc

P–

IS

I–

g.) Why is it adaptive for a bacterium to not express the genes that encode that lactose
utilization proteins when lactose is not available?

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)?

You might also like