6. The lac operon In an E. Coli cell growing in the absence of lactose , a repressor protein binds to the operator, preventing RNA polymerase from transcribing the lac operon's genes. The operon is OFF When the inducer, lactose , is added, it binds to the repressor and changes the repressor's shape so as to eliminate binding to the operator. As long as the operator remains free of the repressor, RNA polymerase that recognizes the promoter can transcribe the operon's structural genes into mRNA. The operon is ON
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