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Multiple Choice
Which gene is responsible for attenuation in the trp operon in prokaryotic cells?
A
trpR
B
trpE
C
trpL
D
trpA
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the concept of the trp operon: The trp operon is a group of genes that are used together to synthesize tryptophan in prokaryotic cells. It is regulated by the availability of tryptophan in the environment.
Learn about attenuation: Attenuation is a regulatory mechanism in the trp operon that controls gene expression by premature termination of transcription. It is a fine-tuning method that responds to tryptophan levels.
Identify the role of trpL: The trpL gene encodes a leader peptide that plays a crucial role in the attenuation mechanism. The leader peptide sequence contains tryptophan codons that sense the tryptophan levels in the cell.
Explore how trpL functions: When tryptophan levels are high, the ribosome quickly translates the leader peptide, causing the formation of a terminator structure in the mRNA, which halts transcription. When tryptophan is low, the ribosome stalls, allowing the formation of an anti-terminator structure, permitting transcription to continue.
Conclude the role of trpL: The trpL gene is responsible for the attenuation mechanism in the trp operon, as it directly influences the transcription process based on tryptophan availability.