Regulation of Gene

Expression
 Intro
Regulation of Gene Expression is a crucial
process.
Survival of an organism depends on how it
responds to its metabolic needs and
environmental conditions.
Ultimate aim of gene expression is to form
RNAs or Proteins
 At any given moment a cell requires
thousands of different proteins
Proteins are synthesized from RNA which
in turn is synthesized from DNA.
So Transcription and Translation must be
on to produce functional proteins, but not
for all proteins
 There are two types of genes exists in the
cell
Inducible genes
Constitutive genes or housekeeping genes

Inducible Genes
The gene activation requires small molecules
called inducers
 Constitutive Genes
Does not require any inducer as these genes
are always active
Types of Regulation
Positive
When the expression of gene is increased
Negative
When the expression of the gene is decreased
 The Lac Operon
The concept is introduced by Jacob and
Monod
Operon is a segment of DNA consists of
Structuralgenes
Operator gene
Regulator gene
Promoter site
 Mechanism of Regulation
In the absence of Lactose
Repressor binds to the operator region and
prevents the binding of RNA polymerase
Inhibits the transcription of proteins involved
in lactose catabolism
Repressor is synthesized by the laci gene
 In the presence of Lactose

Lactoseenters the cell and few lactose

molecules are converted to allolactose.

Allolactoseis positive regulator, it binds with

the repressor and changes its structure
 Repressor that binds with allolactose can no
longer stay in operator region

Dissociation of repressor from operator

permits RNA polymerase to initiate
transcription

The levels of proteins required for catabolism

of lactose increases.
 Role of CAP (Catabolite gene Activator
Protein)
A positive regulator of Lac Operon
It helps in the binding of RNA polymerase to
promoter region
CAP requires cAMP
Binding of CAP-cAMP complex enhances the
activity of RNA polymerase
 cAMP concentration increases when glucose
level decreases

When glucose level is increased cAMP cannot

bind CAP thus decreasing the transcription of
gene
 Regulation in Eukaryotes
Regulation may occur in any one of the
following stages
Transcription
Post Transcriptional Modification
Translation
Post Translational Modification
 Apart from the above mentioned process
some other process also controls gene
expression in Eukaryotes
They are
Gene amplification
Gene rearrangement
Binding of DNA regulatory proteins
Presence of Enhancers and Silencers
Tissue Specific Gene Expression