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Gene Regulation

Gene regulation in bacteria occurs through turning genes on and off via controlling transcription. Bacteria group related genes into operons, which are controlled by a single promoter and repressor protein. When tryptophan is present, the tryptophan operon's repressor protein binds to the operator site, blocking transcription and stopping production of tryptophan-building enzymes. Conversely, when lactose is present the lactose operon's repressor is inactive, allowing transcription and production of lactose-digesting enzymes. Eukaryotic gene expression is controlled at multiple levels including DNA packing, transcription initiation, post-transcriptional processing, translation initiation, and post-translational protein processing and degradation.

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499 views

Gene Regulation

Gene regulation in bacteria occurs through turning genes on and off via controlling transcription. Bacteria group related genes into operons, which are controlled by a single promoter and repressor protein. When tryptophan is present, the tryptophan operon's repressor protein binds to the operator site, blocking transcription and stopping production of tryptophan-building enzymes. Conversely, when lactose is present the lactose operon's repressor is inactive, allowing transcription and production of lactose-digesting enzymes. Eukaryotic gene expression is controlled at multiple levels including DNA packing, transcription initiation, post-transcriptional processing, translation initiation, and post-translational protein processing and degradation.

Uploaded by

Joe Ayson
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Gene Regulation

Gene regulation in bacteria


• Cells vary amount of specific enzymes by
regulating gene transcription
– turn genes on or turn genes off
• turn genes OFF example
if bacterium has enough tryptophan then it doesn’t
STOP need to make enzymes used to build tryptophan
• turn genes ON example
if bacterium encounters new sugar (energy source),
like lactose, then it needs to start making enzymes
GO used to digest lactose
Bacteria group genes together
• Operon
– genes grouped together with related functions
• example: all enzymes in a metabolic pathway
– promoter = RNA polymerase binding site
• single promoter controls transcription of all genes in operon
• transcribed as one unit & a single mRNA is made
– operator = DNA binding site of repressor protein
So how can these genes be turned off?
• Repressor protein
– binds to DNA at operator site
– blocking RNA polymerase
– blocks transcription
So how can these genes be turned off?
• Repressor protein
– binds to DNA at operator site
– blocking RNA polymerase
– blocks transcription
Tryptophan operon
What happens when tryptophan is present?
Don’t need to make tryptophan-building enzymes

Tryptophan is allosteric regulator of repressor protein


Lactose operon
What happens when lactose is present?
Need to make lactose-digesting enzymes

Lactose is allosteric regulator of repressor protein


Positive Gene Regulation
– If glucose levels are
low (along with
overall energy levels),
then cyclic AMP
(cAMP) binds to
cAMP receptor
protein (CRP)
which activates
transcription.
• If glucose levels are
sufficient and cAMP levels
are low (lots of ATP), then
the CRP protein has an
inactive shape and cannot
bind upstream of the lac
promotor.
Control of
Eukaryotic Genes

2007-2008
Points of control
• The control of gene expression
can occur at any step in the
pathway from gene to functional
protein
1. packing/unpacking DNA
2. transcription
3. mRNA processing
4. mRNA transport
5. translation
6. protein processing
7. protein degradation
1. DNA packing as gene control
• Degree of packing of DNA regulates transcription
– tightly wrapped around histones
• no transcription
• genes turned off  heterochromatin
darker DNA (H) = tightly packed
 euchromatin
lighter DNA (E) = loosely packed

H E
DNA methylation
• Methylation of DNA blocks transcription factors
– no transcription
 genes turned off
– attachment of methyl groups (–CH3) to cytosine
• C = cytosine
– nearly permanent inactivation of genes
• ex. inactivated mammalian X chromosome = Barr body
2. Transcription initiation
• Control regions on DNA
– promoter
• nearby control sequence on DNA
• binding of RNA polymerase & transcription factors
• “base” rate of transcription
– enhancer
• distant control
sequences on DNA
• binding of activator
proteins
• “enhanced” rate (high level)
of transcription
Model for Enhancer action

• Enhancer DNA sequences


– distant control sequences
• Activator proteins
– bind to enhancer sequence &
stimulates transcription
• Silencer proteins
– bind to enhancer sequence &
block gene transcription
Turning on Gene movie
Transcription complex
Activator Proteins
• regulatory proteins bind to DNA at distant
enhancer sites Enhancer Sites
• increase the rate of transcription regulatory sites on DNA distant
from gene

Enhancer

Activator

Activator
Activator
Coactivator
B F E RNA polymerase II
A TFIID H

Core promoter
and initiation complex
Initiation Complex at Promoter Site binding site of RNA polymerase
3. Post-transcriptional control
• Alternative RNA splicing
– variable processing of exons creates a family of
proteins
6-7. Protein processing &
degradation
• Protein processing
– folding, cleaving, adding sugar groups,
targeting for transport
• Protein degradation
– ubiquitin tagging
– proteasome degradation

Protein processing movie


6
7
protein Gene Regulation
processing &
degradation
1 & 2. transcription
- DNA packing
- transcription factors

3 & 4. post-transcription
5 - mRNA processing
initiation of 4 - splicing
translation - 5’ cap & poly-A tail
mRNA
- breakdown by siRNA
processing
5. translation
- block start of
2
1 translation
initiation of
transcription 6 & 7. post-translation
- protein processing
- protein degradation

mRNA
mRNA splicing 4 protection
3

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