On a stretch of DNA the operator (the “on” sequence for a group of functionally related genes), promoter (the “on” sequence for a gene), and genes that they control is called an operon. Operons are switched on and off by repressor proteins, which in turn are activated or inactivated by a corepressor, which is usually one of the proteins coded for in the operon. As the concentration of the corepressor increases the more and more repressors are activated, which in turn switches off the operon and ceases the production of the corepressor. Create a model/equation that describes the operon feedback loop. How would the model/equation change if the corepressor inactivated instead of activated the repressor protein?
Theory
- Cellular dynamics: pathways of gene expression (Stephen P. and John Guckenheimer. Dynamic Models in Biology. New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 2006. 107)
- A mathematical model for enzyme reactions (Neuhauser, Claudia. Calculus for Biology and Medicine. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000. 624; DMB pg.
References