The Lac OperettaThe Lac Operetta

A musical? travestyA musical? travestywith apologies to:with apologies to:

Monty PythonMonty Python

UnderdogUnderdog

Richard WagnerRichard Wagner

George GershwinGeorge Gershwin

George Frideric HandelGeorge Frideric Handel

Mighty MouseMighty Mouse

Cast of culprits, their tunes & Cast of culprits, their tunes & propsprops

RNA polymerase (Underdog song)RNA polymerase (Underdog song) Repressor (Lumberjack song, Repressor (Lumberjack song,

Summertime)Summertime) CAP protein (Mighty Mouse song)CAP protein (Mighty Mouse song) Chorus (Ride of the Valkyries) Chorus (Ride of the Valkyries) Lactose (Milky Way bars)Lactose (Milky Way bars) Glucose (Starbursts)Glucose (Starbursts) Cyclic AMP (Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers) Cyclic AMP (Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers)

Scene 1 – In the glucose

Repressor (bound to the operator): I'm a repressor and I'm Okay, I “operate” on DNA. I keep RNA polymerase away, Unless I get my Milky Way.

Chorus: (S)He keeps RNA polymerase away, Unless (s)he gets his (her) Milky Way.

Scene 1 – Still in the glucose Enter RNA polymerase (searching along DNA):

Oh, where oh where is my promoter, Oh, where oh where can it be? Before I start making RNA I must on my promoter be.

Chorus: Before she starts making RNA She must on her promoter be.

Repressor (blocks RNA polymerase): I keep RNA polymerase away, Unless I get my Milky Way!

Scene 2 – In the land of milk and honey (both glucose and lactose)

Repressor (grabbing Milky Way bars, floats away from the DNA): Milky time, and the lactose is easy. I've got my lactose, don't care about DNA no mo'.....

RNA polymerase (resumes looking): Oh, where oh where is my promoter, Oh, where oh where can it be....?

Scene 3 – Impending Starvation(no glucose)

Chorus (throws cinnamon fire candy (cAMP)): No more glucose, we are starving, Send alarms, or else we die!

CAP (catches a couple of red hots, binds to promoter, waves to RNA polymerase): Have no fear, I'm on my way! The lac promoter, is right here, Polymerase, can get in gear! Polymerize lac RNA!

Scene 3 – triumphant transcription; starvation averted

• RNA polymerase transcribes lac RNA• Chorus:

• RNA polymerase transcribeth,• Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!• Ribosomes translate galactosidase,• Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah!• And we shall live for ever and ever!• And we shall live for ever and ever!• Hallelujah!