Question

Is lac operon repressible or inducible?

Answer 1

Lac operon:

1. The lac operon is an inducible operon that uses lactose as a source of energy and is activated when glucose levels are low but lactose is present.
2. Because the lac operon is typically shut off (repressed) but can be activated in the presence of the inducer allolactose, it is referred to as an inducible operon.
3. Both mechanisms may be seen in the lac operon. It is a negative control system because the lac repressor, an active repressor that prevents transcription, usually prevents expression. The lac repressor interacts with the operator region to bind and inhibit transcription.
4. The lac operon, also known as the lactose operon, is found in E. coli and other intestinal bacteria. Genes coding for proteins that transport lactose into the cytosol and breakdown it into glucose are found in this operon. The glucose is subsequently converted into energy.