Operon

An operon is a group of genes including an operator, a common promoter, and one or more structural genes that are controlled as a unit to produce messenger RNA (mRNA). Operons occur primarily in prokaryotes and nematodes.

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They were first described by Fran?ois Jacob and Jacques Monod in 1961.

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An operon is a unit of transcription consisting of one or more structural genes, and two associated segments of DNA:

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• an operator (the switch)
• a promoter (a binding site for the transcription enzyme).

The switch of an operon (that is, the "operator") is turned on unless a specific substance is bound to the operator. This substance is therefore called a repressor.

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In summary:

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• The "operator" is a DNA binding site for a repressor;
• transcription of the structural genes takes place unless a repressor is bound to the operator.

Gene: :For the band called Gene, see Gene (band)...

Operator: :This article is about operators in mathematics, for other kinds of operators see operator (disambiguation)....

Promoter: In genetics, a promoter is a DNA sequence that enables a gene to be transcribed. The promoter is recognized by RNA polymerase, which then initiates transcription. In RNA synthesis, promoters are a means to demarcate which genes should be used for messenger RNA creation - and, by extension, control ...