Trp Operon - Part I

Question 1

Prokaryotic cells cannot carry out what protein synthesis process?

Answer 1

RNA processing

Question 2

What is an operon?

Answer 2

A group of linked structural genes with common promoter and operator.
Transcribes as a single unit.

Question 3

In what organisms are operons found?

Answer 3

Prokaryotic organisms (Bacteria)

Question 4

What bacteria are we focusing on?

Answer 4

E. coli (Escherichia coli)

Question 5

What is tryptophan?

Answer 5

An amino acid

Question 6

How can humans get tryptophan?

Answer 6

Through environment (eating)

Question 7

How can E.coli get tryptophan

Answer 7

• Ingest through environment
• Synthesise it

Question 8

How many structural genes does the trp operon have?

Answer 8

5 sturctural genes

Question 9

What section of gene does the trp operon possess o regulate gene expression?

Answer 9

Operator

Question 10

Why does trp operon need to be regulated?

Answer 10

To not produce excess tryptophan and thus not waste energy.

Question 11

Describe structure of trp operon chronologically

Answer 11

Ptrp (Promoter region) - Otrp (Operator sequence) - Leader sequence - Attenuator region - start triplet - trpE gene - trpD gene - trpC gene - trpB gene - trpA gene - stop triplet

Question 12

Describe where Transcription and Translation occur in prokaryotes

Answer 12

• No nucleus present so in cytoplasm
• Both processes happen in same location at around same time