The genes lacZ, lacY and lacA are transcribed from a single promoter (P) that produces a single mRNA from which the three proteins are translated. The operon is regulated by Lac repressor ...

Shelby is an assistant editor for The Scientist. She earned her PhD from West Virginia University in immunology and microbiology and completed an AAAS Mass Media fellowship.

Microbial genes, including cntA/B, the cai operon, and the gbu gene cluster, have been implicated in converting L-carnitine into TMA(O). However, the key genes and microbes remain underexplored.

How do bacteria avoid wasteful production of unnecessary proteins when their genes are always on? The answer lies in regulating the operon. As trp levels increase, trp binds to trpR, causing a ...

In particular, the 'polycistronic operon' system, where multiple genes are expressed in coordination to form complexes and perform specific functions, is crucial in maximizing encoding efficiency ...