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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is an effect of the presence of glucose on the lac operon?
A
Increased binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter
B
Induction of the lac operon by lactose
C
Activation of the lac operon by increasing cAMP levels
D
Inhibition of adenylate cyclase, leading to decreased cAMP levels
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of glucose in the regulation of the lac operon. Glucose is a preferred energy source for bacteria, and its presence affects the expression of the lac operon.
Recall that the lac operon is regulated by the availability of glucose and lactose. When glucose is present, the cell prioritizes its metabolism over lactose.
Recognize that glucose affects the levels of cyclic AMP (cAMP) in the cell. High glucose levels lead to low cAMP levels because glucose inhibits the enzyme adenylate cyclase, which is responsible for converting ATP to cAMP.
Understand that cAMP is necessary for the activation of the lac operon. It binds to the catabolite activator protein (CAP), and this complex then binds to the promoter region of the lac operon, facilitating RNA polymerase binding and transcription initiation.
Conclude that the presence of glucose inhibits adenylate cyclase, leading to decreased cAMP levels, which in turn reduces the activation of the lac operon, as the CAP-cAMP complex is not formed efficiently.