(a) Absence of inducer
lac operon ■
Repressor binds to operator, preventing transcription of lac operon
Repressor
(b) Presence of inducer
i
| P | O | Z | ~
polymerase /flC mRNA.
Transcription of lac structural genes
Indocer-repressor compte* does not bind to operator
Figurę 5-25 Cod troi of transcription of the E. coli lac operon.
(a) In the absence of an inducer such as allolactose. the lac repressor binds to the operator (O), thereby preventing RNA poły me rasę from transcribing the Y. and A genes of the lac
operon. (6) On binding inducer. the lac repressor dissociates from the operator, which permits RNA polymerase to bind to the promoter (/*) and transcribe the Z. Y. and A genes. See GuWed Erploratłon 2: Regulatlon of gene erpresslon by tfte lac repressor system