L-arabinose operon
The L-arabinose operon of the model bacterium Escherichia coli has been a focus for research in molecular biology for over 40 years, and has been investigated extensively at the genetic, biochemical, physiological, and biophysical levels.
It is controlled by a dual positive and negative system.
There are 3 structural genes: araB, araA, and araD. They encode the metabolic enzymes for
breaking down the monosaccharide sugar arabinose into D-xylulose-5-phosphate, which is then metabolised via the pentose phosphate pathway.
The initiator region, containing an operator site as well as a promoter, is called araI (the last letter of araI is an uppercase letter " i ").
Near this site lies the araC gene, which encodes an activator protein.
The AraC protein binds to initiator region araI.
Metabolism of arabinose in E. coli
| Substrate | Protein(s) | Function | Reversible | Product
|
| L-arabinose | AraA | isomerase | yes | L-ribulose
|
| L-ribulose | AraB | ribulokinase | no | L-ribulose-phosphate
|
| L-ribulose-phosphate | AraD | epimerase | yes | D-xylulose-phosphate
|
Activation
If arabinose is present, it builds a complex: AraC + arabinose
This complex is needed for RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter and transcribe the ara operon.
Also for activation the binding of another structure to araI is needed: CAP + cyclic AMP
So the activation depends on the presence of arabinose and cAMP.
Repression
If arabinose is absent, the AraC protein assumes a different conformation. In this conformation
the AraC protein binds as well to araI as to ara0 region. Now the DNA is forming a loop. This
prevents transcription of the ara operon.
Sequence of the Operon:
araC : araO : araI : araB : araA : araD
See also
- The lac operon is another operon in E. coli that has been a focus for research in gene expression.
References
(December 2000) "Regulation of the L-arabinose operon of Escherichia coli". Trends in Genetics 16 (12): 559-565.
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