Read the following and answer the question given below:The lac operon...
The messenger RNA produced by transcription carries information for the synthesis of all three proteins found in all three structural genes. Hence, it is a polycistronic messenger RNA.
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Read the following and answer the question given below:The lac operon...
Explanation:
The lac operon is a system of genes involved in the metabolism of lactose in E.coli. It consists of a regulator gene, a promoter region, an operator region, and three structural genes: lacZ, lacY, and lacA.
Regulation of lac operon:
- The lac operon is regulated by a repressor protein produced by the regulator gene.
- In the absence of lactose, the repressor protein binds to the operator region, preventing RNA polymerase from transcribing the structural genes.
- When lactose is present, it acts as an inducer. Lactose binds to the repressor protein, causing a conformational change that prevents it from binding to the operator region.
- As a result, RNA polymerase can access the promoter region and transcribe the structural genes.
Statement (i): Galactosidase is the only enzyme produced in large quantities when lac operon is turned on.
- This statement is incorrect. The lac operon is responsible for the production of three enzymes: beta-galactosidase (lacZ), lactose permease (lacY), and thiogalactoside transacetylase (lacA).
- Beta-galactosidase is involved in the hydrolysis of lactose into glucose and galactose.
- Lactose permease facilitates the transport of lactose into the cell.
- Thiogalactoside transacetylase is involved in the detoxification of certain lactose analogs.
Statement (ii): The messenger RNA in lac operon is a polycistronic mRNA.
- This statement is correct. A polycistronic mRNA is an mRNA molecule that contains the coding sequences for multiple genes.
- In the lac operon, a single mRNA molecule is transcribed from the promoter region, and this mRNA contains the coding sequences for all three structural genes (lacZ, lacY, and lacA).
- The polycistronic mRNA is then translated into individual proteins by ribosomes.
Conclusion:
- From the given options, only statement (ii) is correct. The messenger RNA in lac operon is a polycistronic mRNA.
- Statement (i) is incorrect as the lac operon produces three enzymes, not just galactosidase.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option B.
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