Lac repressor: Difference between revisions
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Repressors are proteins that inhibit the expression of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene genes]; that is, they inhibit the transcription of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_rna messenger RNA] from their target genes. Each repressor targets a specific co-regulated group of genes by recognizing a specific sequence of DNA, called the ''operator'' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria bacteria]. Repressor proteins are coded for by ''regulatory'' genes. | Repressors are proteins that inhibit the expression of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene genes]; that is, they inhibit the transcription of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messenger_rna messenger RNA] from their target genes. Each repressor targets a specific co-regulated group of genes by recognizing a specific sequence of DNA, called the ''operator'' in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacteria bacteria]. Repressor proteins are coded for by ''regulatory'' genes. | ||
The lac repressor controls the expression of bacterial enzymes involved in the metabolism of of the sugar lactose. It, and the group of genes it controls, called an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operon operon], were the first such gene regulatory system to be discovered. The operon genetics and mechanism were described in 1960<ref>L'opéron: groupe de gènes à expression coordonée par un opérateur. [Operon: a group of genes with the expression coordinated by an operator.] C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci., 250:1727-9, 1960. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14406329 PubMed 14406329]</ref> by François Jacob ''et al.'', who also proposed the general mechanism of action of the lac repressor. The [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1965/ 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine] was awarded to François Jacob, André Lwoff, and Jacques Monod "for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis". | The lac repressor controls the expression of bacterial enzymes involved in the metabolism of of the sugar lactose. It, and the group of genes it controls, which is called an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operon operon], were the first such gene regulatory system to be discovered. The operon genetics and mechanism were described in 1960<ref>L'opéron: groupe de gènes à expression coordonée par un opérateur. [Operon: a group of genes with the expression coordinated by an operator.] C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci., 250:1727-9, 1960. [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14406329 PubMed 14406329]</ref> by François Jacob ''et al.'', who also proposed the general mechanism of action of the lac repressor. The [http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1965/ 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine] was awarded to François Jacob, André Lwoff, and Jacques Monod "for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis". | ||
For a general introduction to the lac repressor, please see David Goodsell's [http://pdb.rcsb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb39_1.html Introduction to the lac repressor] in his series [[Molecule of the Month]], and the article in Wikipedia on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_repressor lac repressor]. | For a general introduction to the lac repressor, please see David Goodsell's [http://pdb.rcsb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb39_1.html Introduction to the lac repressor] in his series [[Molecule of the Month]], and the article in Wikipedia on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lac_repressor lac repressor]. | ||
Revision as of 03:40, 6 October 2008
What is the lac repressor?What is the lac repressor?
Repressors are proteins that inhibit the expression of genes; that is, they inhibit the transcription of messenger RNA from their target genes. Each repressor targets a specific co-regulated group of genes by recognizing a specific sequence of DNA, called the operator in bacteria. Repressor proteins are coded for by regulatory genes.
The lac repressor controls the expression of bacterial enzymes involved in the metabolism of of the sugar lactose. It, and the group of genes it controls, which is called an operon, were the first such gene regulatory system to be discovered. The operon genetics and mechanism were described in 1960[1] by François Jacob et al., who also proposed the general mechanism of action of the lac repressor. The 1965 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to François Jacob, André Lwoff, and Jacques Monod "for their discoveries concerning genetic control of enzyme and virus synthesis".
For a general introduction to the lac repressor, please see David Goodsell's Introduction to the lac repressor in his series Molecule of the Month, and the article in Wikipedia on the lac repressor.
ReferencesReferences
- ↑ L'opéron: groupe de gènes à expression coordonée par un opérateur. [Operon: a group of genes with the expression coordinated by an operator.] C R Hebd Seances Acad Sci., 250:1727-9, 1960. PubMed 14406329