Gene Expression Chapter 11 Table of Contents Section 1 Control of Gene Expression Section 2 Gene Expression in Development and Cell Division

Gene ExpressionChapter 11

Table of Contents

Section 1 Control of Gene Expression

Section 2 Gene Expression in Development and Cell

Division

Chapter 11

Objectives

• Explain why cells regulate gene expression.

• Discuss the role of operons in prokaryotic gene expression.

• Determine how repressor proteins and inducers affect transcription in prokaryotes.

• Describe the structure of a eukaryotic gene.

• Compare the two ways gene expression is controlled in eukaryotes.


Section 1 Control of Gene ExpressionChapter 11

Role of Gene Expression

• Gene expression is the activation of a gene that results in transcription and the production of mRNA.

• Only a fraction of any cell’s genes are expressed at any one time.


Gene Expression in Prokaryotes

• An operon is a series of genes that code for specific products and the regulatory elements that control these genes. In prokaryotes, the structural genes, the promoter, and the operator collectively form an operon.

Chapter 11

Click below to watch the Visual Concept.

Visual Concept

Operon



Gene Expression in Prokaryotes, continued

• A promoter is the segment of DNA that is recognized by the enzyme RNA polymerase, which then initiates transcription.

• An operator is the segment of DNA that acts as a “switch” by controlling the access of RNA polymerase to the promoter.



• Operon “Turned Off”– Repressor proteins are coded for by regulator

genes and these proteins inhibit genes from being expressed.

– A repressor protein attaches to the operator, physically blocking the advancement of RNA polymerase.

Chapter 11


Visual Concept

Repression of Transcription in the lac Operon




• Operon “Turned On”– An inducer is a molecule that initiates gene

expression. In E. coli, lactose serves as an inducer.

– An inducer binds to the repressor protein and the repressor protein detaches from the operator. RNA polymerase can then advance to the structural genes.

Chapter 11


Visual Concept

Activation of Transcription in the lac Operon


Chapter 11

Mechanism of lac Operon



Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

• Structure of a Eukaryotic Gene– Eukaryotes do not have operons. – The genomes of eukaryotes are larger and more

complex than those of prokaryotes. – Eukaryotic genes are organized into noncoding

sections, called introns, and coding sections, called exons.


Gene Expression in Eukaryotes, continued

• Control After Transcription– In eukaryotes, gene expression can be controlled

after transcription—through the removal of introns from pre-mRNA.

Chapter 11

Removal of Introns After Transcription



Gene Expression in Eukaryotes, continued

• Control at the Onset of Transcription– In eukaryotes, gene expression can be controlled

at the onset of transcription—through the action of regulatory proteins known as transcription factors.

Chapter 11


Visual Concept

Enhancers for Control of Gene Expression


Chapter 11

Controlling Transcription in Eukaryotes


Section 2 Gene Expression in Development and Cell DivisionChapter 11

Objectives• Summarize the role of gene expression in an organism’s

development.

• Describe the influence of homeotic genes in eukaryotic development.

• State the role of the homeobox in eukaryotic development.

• Summarize the effects of mutations in causing cancer.

• Compare the characteristics of cancer cells with those of normal cells.


Gene Expression in Development

• The development of cells with specialized functions is called cell differentiation.

• The development of form in an organism is called morphogenesis.

• Both cell differentiation and morphogenesis are governed by gene expression.


Gene Expression in Development, continued

• Homeotic Genes– Homeotic genes are regulatory genes that

determine where anatomical structures will be placed during development.



• Homeobox Sequences– Within each homeotic gene, a specific DNA

sequence known as the homeobox regulates patterns of development.

– The homeoboxes of many eukaryotic organisms appear to be very similar.



• Tracking Changes in Gene Expression– In the 1990s, researchers developed a tool for

tracking gene expression called a DNA chip.


Gene Expression, Cell Division, and Cancer

• Mutations of proto-oncogenes, which regulate cell growth, or tumor-suppressor genes, which prevent cell division from occurring too often,may lead to cancer.

• Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

Chapter 11

Effect of Mutation on Gene Expression

Section 2 Gene Expression in Development and Cell Division


Gene Expression, Cell Division, and Cancer, continued

• Gene Expression in Cancer– Unlike normal cells, cancer cells continue to divide

indefinitely, even if they become densely packed. – Cancer cells will also continue dividing even if they

are no longer attached to other cells.


Gene Expression, Cell Division, and Cancer, continued

• Causes of Cancer– A carcinogen is any substance that can induce or

promote cancer. – Most carcinogens are mutagens, substances that

cause mutations.

Documents

Gene Expression Chapter 11 Table of Contents Section 1 Control of Gene Expression Section 2 Gene Expression in Development and Cell Division