Question 2

(Essay)

The accompanying table lists several genotypes associated with the lac operon in E. coli. For each, indicate with a "+" or a "-" whether β-galactosidase would be expected to be produced at induced levels. Genotype                         β\beta -galactosidase production
                                        No Lactose         With Lactose
(a) I+O+Z+/FI+O+Z+\quad I + O + Z + / F ^ { \prime } I + O + Z +
(b) IOcZ/FIOcZ\quad I - O c Z - / F ^ { \prime } I - O c Z -
(c) IOcZ+/FIO+Z+\quad I - O c Z + / F ^ { \prime } I - O + Z +
(d) Is Oc ZF\mathrm { Z } - \mathrm { F } ^ { \prime } Is O+Z+\mathrm { O } + \mathrm { Z } ^ { + }
I+=I ^ { + } = wild-type repressor
I=I ^ { - } = mutant repressor (unable to bind to the operator)
Is == mutant repressor (insensitive to lactose)
O+=\mathrm { O } ^ { + } = wild-type operator
OC=\mathrm { OC } = constitutive operator (insensitive to repressor)

Answer

(a) +- \quad +
(b) - \quad -
(c) +++ \quad +
(d) - \quad -