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Home >>Regulation of Gene Expression - in Prokaryotes >> Operon
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Operon - An operon is a set of genes which are linked and are under the control of one promoter or operator. These genes accomplish one single task. An operon basically consists of two categories of genes.

1. Structural genes  - These genes are segments of DNA, which code for functional peptides, or enzymes or proteins. Proteins of structural genes directly interact with the inducer or accomplish a single task.

2. Control genes  - These are genes which are primarily responsible for controlling the structural genes by producing an inducer or repressor substance. There are basically three types of genes.

i. Regulator genes -  The regulator gene (r) produces some specific enzymes which act as repressor substances. This repressor binds to the operator gene and thus stops the expression of structural genes.

ii. Promoter gene - The promoter gene (p) is the DNA segment at which RNA polymerase binds. It initiates the transcription of the structural genes.

iii. Operator gene -The operator gene (0) is the segment of DNA which exercises a control over transcription. It lies close to the structural gene and the repressor binds to it.

 

  

 
 

 
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