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Molecular Basis Of Inheritance

Question
CBSEENBI12003217

E. coli cells with a mutated Z gene of the lac operon cannot grow in medium containing only lactose as the source of energy because

  • in the presence of glucose, E. coli cells do not utilize lactose

  • they cannot transport lactose from the medium into the cell

  • the lac operon is constitutevely active in these cells

  • they cannot synthesize functional β- galactosidase

Solution

D.

they cannot synthesize functional β- galactosidase

Lac operon is a cluster of genes encoding three proteins that bacteria use to obtain energy from the sugar lactose. There are three structural genes in lac operon.

(i) Lac Z (3063bp)- This genes codes for enzyme β- galactosidase. It breaks lactose into glucose and galactose. Therefore, E. coili cells with a mutated Z genes cannot grow in medium containing only lactose as the source of energy because they cannot synthesize functional β- galactosidase.

(ii) Lac Y (800 bp)- This gene codes for enzyme β galactose permease. It is a membrane bound protein and helps in the transport of metabolites.

(iii) Lac A (800bp)- This gene codes for enzyme β- galactose transacetylase. It transfers an acetyl group from acetyl Co- A to β- galactosidase.