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Multiple Choice
Glucose concentration can regulate the lac operon?
A
True
B
False
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the lac operon: The lac operon is a set of genes in bacteria that are involved in the metabolism of lactose. It is regulated by the presence or absence of lactose and glucose in the environment.
Identify the role of glucose: In the presence of glucose, bacteria prefer to use glucose over lactose because it is a more efficient energy source. This preference affects the regulation of the lac operon.
Explore catabolite repression: When glucose is present, it inhibits the activation of the lac operon through a mechanism called catabolite repression. This involves the reduction of cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels, which are necessary for the activation of the lac operon.
Examine the role of cAMP and CAP: cAMP binds to the catabolite activator protein (CAP), and this complex is required for the transcription of the lac operon. In the presence of glucose, cAMP levels drop, reducing the binding of the cAMP-CAP complex to the lac operon promoter, thus inhibiting its expression.
Conclude the relationship: Since glucose concentration affects the levels of cAMP and subsequently the activity of the lac operon, it is true that glucose concentration can regulate the lac operon.