What Happens When a Repressor is Bound to the Operator

Question

What happens when a repressor is bound to the operator?
A) RNA polymerase is prevented from transcribing the structural genes in the operon.
B) RNA polymerase transcribes the structural genes in the operon.
C) RNA polymerase increases the rate of transcription.
D) RNA polymerase decreases the rate of transcription.
E) None of these are correct.

Accepted Answer

A repressor bound to the operator blocks RNA polymerase from accessing the promoter region and transcribing the structural genes in the operon. This leads to the decrease or complete inhibition of gene expression in the operon.