CONTROL OF GENE

EXPRESSION
Bhaskar Ganguly
Ph.D., M.V.Sc., B.V.Sc. & A.H.

Gene Expression
Gene Expression is a process by which
a genes DNA sequence is turned into
functional protein
Marked by the production of mRNA in a
cell
All cells contain the same genome, but
not all genes are transcribed &
translated
Specific cues to express genes include:
temperature changes, nutrients in the
external environment, hormones, or other
complex signals

Gene Control

Gene regulation is a
process by which genes are
controlled (turned on and off)
in response to signals

Cells regulate the genes that

are expressed

Prokaryotic & eukaryotic

cells regulate a bit differently

Transcriptional regulation (common to both cells)

refers to controlling the amount of mRNA transcribed.

Transcriptional
Regulation
Once the amount of mRNA is controlled, the amount of
protein is indirectly controlled

RNA polymerase binds at the promoter (found

upstream of gene sequences), which indicates the
beginning site for transcription
Eukaryotic promoters commonly
have a CAAT box (GGCCAATCT)
about 80 nucleotides upstream of
the start site of gene and a TATA
box
(TATAAAA)
about
30
nucleotides upstream of start site of
gene

Transcription Factors
Transcription factors are DNA binding proteins that
regulate the binding of RNA polymerase to stimulate
transcription of a gene.
Bind to the TATA & CAAT
boxes
to
stimulate
transcription

Bind upstream to either

enhance
or
repress
transcription of a gene by
assisting or blocking RNA
polymerase binding

Enhancers
Many regulated genes
contain enhancers

They are regulatory

DNA sequences, about
50 or more base pairs

They are found upstream (occasionally downstream),

and can be bound by regulatory proteins

Can be located far, but a loop in DNA causes contact

The regulatory proteins are called activators

Activators
Activators are
DNA-binding
proteins
that
regulate
one
or
more
genes
by
increasing the rate
of transcription
They bind to particular enhancers

They interact with transcription factors and RNA

polymerase to activate or enhance transcription of a gene

Examples include certain hormones

Repressors
A repressor is a
DNA-binding
protein
that
regulates
the
expression of one
or more genes by
decreasing the rate
transcriptionbind within the promoter, preventing RNA
ofRepressors
polymerase from binding

Identifying promoters, enhancer sequences, and

transcription factors is important for making biotech
products!

Prokaryotic Regulation

Many bacterial genes are

arrangements called operons.

organized

in

Operons
Operons are clusters of
several related genes that
are located together and
controlled by a single
promoter.

Many genes controlling

nutrient
metabolism
by
bacteria are organized as
operons.

lac operon
Classic example of gene regulation = lac operon
Consists of 3 genes:
lac z (encodes -galactosidase)
lac y (encodes permease)
lac a (encodes acetylase)
These 3 enzymes are necessary for transport &
breakdown of lactose (important energy source) by
bacterial cells.

lac operon basics

lac for lactose!
Lactose is transported into the
cell using permease

Lactose is degraded into

glucose + galactose by the
enzyme -galactosidase

The function of acetylase is

not clear (protection possibly?)

lac operon (on)

lac operon in absence of lactose

Lac operon regulated by protein lac
repressor (encoded by lac i gene - a
regulator gene upstream of operon).

Repressor protein binds to operator

An operator is a segment of DNA that
regulates the activity of the structural genes
of an operon that it is linked to, by interacting
with a specific repressor or activator.
Blocks RNA polymerase from binding to promoter

Blocks transcription of z, y, a genes

lac operon (off)

Inducible Operon
Bacteria grown with lactose; sugars
are inducers (stimulate transcription
by disabling repressor protein)

Lactose binds to lac repressor

(changing its shape; thus, preventing
binding of repressor to operator)

RNA polymerase binds to promoter

to stimulate transcription of the
operon.

This is called an inducible operon.

(Enzymes needed when nutrient is

Trp operon
trp for tryptophan, an amino
acid
Produces 5 enzymes that
are part of an anabolic
pathway for the synthesis of
tryptophan
Regulator gene codes for
inactive repressor (enzymes
ordinarily made).

Repressible operon
In presence of tryptophan, the
enzymes are not needed
Tryptophan binds to repressor
(changes shape & is now able to
attach to operator & genes are
not expressed)
Hence, tryptophan is called a corepressor.

This is an example of a repressible operon

(enzymes needed when nutrient is not present).

Trp operon

THANK YOU