C2005/F2401 '10 -- Lecture #15 -- Outline

Last Posted/Updated --  11/02/10 01:42 PM

I. Summary of how 'RNA makes protein' (See notes of Lecture #14)

II. Mutations (See notes of Lecture #14)

    A. Why mistakes in DNA synthesis are more serious than mistakes in RNA or protein synthesis

    B. Types of  mutations -- insertions, deletions, substitutions, frameshifts

    C. Importance of mutations

 III. Intro to Regulation in Prokaryotes (Handout 15A)

    A. Enzyme synthesis can be Inducible, Repressible, or Constitutive

    B. Repression vs. feed back inhibition

IV.  Operons & How They Work (Handout 15B)

    A. Co-ordinate Control 

    B. How Transcription is turned off (repressors & operators)

    C. Mechanism of induction (& repression) -- role of effectors (co-repressors & inducers)

    D. An example of induction

    E. Constitutive Mutants

•   How does an operon get stuck in the "on" position?
•   How can you tell a mutation in an operator from a mutation in a repressor gene?

    F. Weak vs. Strong Promotors -- how you regulate the level of mRNA made when a gene/operon is fully "on"

Next Time: Wrap up of above, Repression vs Induction, and then How do Bacteria Have Sex? How do they Exchange and/or Transfer genes?