Question

Suppose a bacterial had a mutated repressor protein that could not bind to the lac operator. how ,might this affect regulation of the operon

Answer 1

Operators have regulatory DNA sequences, which act as binding sites for regulatory proteins that promote or inhibit transcription. If there is a mutation, there will be no regulation in the transcription process, that is, many copies of RNA will be created that encode certain proteins and there will be an imbalance in the bacteria.

Another possibility is that transcription and subsequent translation of certain proteins essential for the life of the bacteria is not promoted.

Answer 2

Transcription of the operon by RNA polymerase would not stop. This would, therefore, keep the genes in the operon activated without repression. β-galactosidase, lactose permease, and lactose transacetylase enzymes would still be produced by the bacteria even in a non-lactose medium.