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    Mia Hopkins
    The lac operon simulation models the regulation of lactose metabolism in bacteria by the lac operon. It consists of three main parts - the lac repressor protein encoded by the lacI gene, the promoter and operator region, and the structural genes lacZ, lacY, and lacA. The simulation shows how the lac repressor binds to the operator region in the absence of the sugar allolactose, preventing expression of the structural genes. When lactose is present, it is converted to allolactose which then binds the repressor and induces expression of the structural genes.

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    Name: - Period

    Uploaded by

    Mia Hopkins
    298 views3 pages
    The lac operon simulation models the regulation of lactose metabolism in bacteria by the lac operon. It consists of three main parts - the lac repressor protein encoded by the lacI gene, the promoter and operator region, and the structural genes lacZ, lacY, and lacA. The simulation shows how the lac repressor binds to the operator region in the absence of the sugar allolactose, preventing expression of the structural genes. When lactose is present, it is converted to allolactose which then binds the repressor and induces expression of the structural genes.

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    Lac Operon Simulation (1)

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    The lac operon simulation models the regulation of lactose metabolism in bacteria by the lac operon. It consists of three main parts - the lac repressor protein encoded by the lacI gene, the promoter and operator region, and the structural genes lacZ, lacY, and lacA. The simulation shows how the lac repressor binds to the operator region in the absence of the sugar allolactose, preventing expression of the structural genes. When lactose is present, it is converted to allolactose which then binds the repressor and induces expression of the structural genes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    298 views3 pages

    Name: - Period

    Uploaded by

    Mia Hopkins
    The lac operon simulation models the regulation of lactose metabolism in bacteria by the lac operon. It consists of three main parts - the lac repressor protein encoded by the lacI gene, the promoter and operator region, and the structural genes lacZ, lacY, and lacA. The simulation shows how the lac repressor binds to the operator region in the absence of the sugar allolactose, preventing expression of the structural genes. When lactose is present, it is converted to allolactose which then binds the repressor and induces expression of the structural genes.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
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    The lac operon simulation models how bacteria regulate lactose metabolism in response to environmental lactose levels through a negative feedback loop involving the lac repressor protein.

    Without the lacZ gene attached, no lac enzymes will be produced. This is because the promoter alone is not enough - it also requires the structural genes to be present for transcription.

    The presence of lactose acts as an inducer by binding to the lac repressor protein, causing it to detach from the operator region and allowing RNA polymerase to bind and transcribe the structural genes. This converts lactose into allolactose and glucose.

    Name: _____________________________________________ Period: ______

    lac Operon Simulation

    The goal of this simulation is to help you understand how prokaryotes (note that this is for prokaryotes and NOT
    eukaryotes) control gene expression. Specifically, this activity will simulate an inducible operon called the lac operon
    used to control the expression of genes that control lactose levels in bacteria. Again, this is for bacteria only and has
    nothing to do with lactose catabolism or lactose intolerance in humans .

    1. Prior to using the simulation, identify the function of each part of the lac operon.
    (please note the names of each part may be different between the picture above and the simulation)

     Regulatory gene/lacI gene

     Repressor protein

     Allolactose (inducer)

     Promoter for structural genes

     Operator for structural genes

     lacZ gene

     lacZ protein

     lacY gene

     lacY protein

     lacA gene

     lacA protein
    2. Using the Simulation
     Go to http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/gene-machine-lac-operon or Google search “PhET operon
    simulation”
     Click on “Run Now”
     Check “Show Legend” so you can identify the parts of the simulation; you can click “Show Lactose Meter”

    1. Step 1: Drag the lac promoter to the stretch of DNA. Do NOT drag the lacZ gene to the DNA. What happens?
    Why is this?

    2. Step 2: Now try dragging the lacZ gene to the DNA and note what happens.

    3. Step 3: Inject some lactose (about 25 molecules should do it) into the simulation. Note what happens.
    Specifically, what is lactose being converted into?

    4. Step 4: Note that the lac enzyme continues to be produced even in the absence of lactose. Why is this a
    problem? Try dragging the lac operator gene onto the stretch of DNA. What is the result?

    5. Step 5: Now try adding the lacI promoter and lacI gene to the stretch of DNA. What happens?

    6. Step 6: Again, add some lactose (and again, 25 molecules should work well) into the simulation. What is the
    INITIAL result of adding lactose when both genes are activated?

    7. Step 7: Do not add any more lactose and watch what transpires. Note what happens and why this occurs. How
    could you re-activate the lacZ gene?

    8. Step 8: Now try the lactose transport tab and insert all of the promoters and genes. Add some lactose and watch
    to see what transpires. What is the role of the lacY gene? How does this help the system?

    3. Make Predications Using the Simulation


     Some mutations can disable genes. What might happen if there is a mutation to the lacI gene? The lacZ gene?
    The lacY gene? Use the simulation and remove each gene from the DNA molecule and record what happens.

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