AP BIOLOGY Test Booklet
operons
1.
The regulatory sequences of the operon controlling arabinose metabolism (ara operon) were studied to determine
whether bacteria can respond to changes in nutrient availability. It is predicted that if those regulatory sequences are
functioning properly, the bacteria will produce the enzymes involved in arabinose metabolism (structural genes B,
A, and D) in the presence of arabinose.
If a gene that encodes a green fluorescent protein (GFP) is substituted for the structural genes of the operon,
activation of the regulatory sequences can be assayed by GFP expression. A culture of E. coli cells underwent a
transformation procedure with a plasmid containing the regulatory sequences of the ara operon directly upstream of
the gene encoding the GFP. The plasmid also confers ampicillin resistance to bacteria. Samples were then plated on
different types of culture media. (Note: The GFP fluoresces only under UV light, not under white light.) The table
below shows the results.
Which of the following can best be used to justify why the GFP is expressed by E. coli cells after transformation
with the plasmid?
The presence of arabinose in the nutrient agar activated the expression of the genes located downstream of
(A)
the ara operon regulatory sequences.
The combination of ampicillin and arabinose in the nutrient agar inhibited the expression of certain gene
(B)
products, resulting in the increased expression of the GFP.
The nutrient agar without arabinose but with ampicillin activated the expression of the genes located
(C)
downstream of the ara operon regulatory sequences.
Both arabinose and ampicillin were required in the nutrient agar to activate the expression of genes located
(D)
downstream of the ara operon regulatory sequences.
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Test Booklet
operons
2. Lactose digestion in E. coli begins with its hydrolysis by the enzyme β-galactosidase. The gene encoding
β-galactosidase, lacZ, is part of a coordinately regulated operon containing other genes required for lactose
utilization.
Which of the following figures correctly depicts the interactions at the lac operon when lactose is NOT being
utilized? (The legend below defines the shapes of the molecules illustrated in the options.)
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
3. Lactose digestion in E. coli begins with its hydrolysis by the enzyme β-galactosidase. The gene encoding
β-galactosidase, lacZ, is part of a coordinately regulated operon containing other genes required for lactose
utilization.
Which of the following figures correctly depicts the interactions at the lac operon when lactose is NOT being
utilized? (The legend below defines the shapes of the molecules illustrated in the options.)
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Test Booklet
operons
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
LAC OPERON STRUCTURE
The functions of the loci of the lac operon shown in the diagram are described in the table below.
The diagram above represents a segment of the E. coli chromosome that contains the lacI gene and part of the lac operon,
a coordinately regulated set of genes that are required for the metabolism of lactose. The presence of lactose, which causes
the repressor to be released from the operator, results in increased transcription of the lac operon.
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operons
4. Which of the following is the most likely consequence of a mutation at the operator locus that prevents binding of
the repressor protein?
(A) Expression of the structural genes will be repressed, even in the presence of lactose.
(B) Beta-galactosidase will be produced, even in the absence of lactose.
(C) RNA polymerase will attach at the Plac locus, but transcription will be blocked.
(D) The operator locus will code for a different protein and thereby prevent transcription of the structural gene.
5. Figure 1 represents a metabolic process involving the regulation of lactose metabolism by E. coli bacteria. Lactose
is utilized for energy by E. coli when glucose is not present. Allolactose is an isomer of lactose that is in the
environment of these bacteria when lactose is present. The site prevents the binding of polymerase
when glucose is present in the environment. The , , and genes code for proteins needed for lactose
metabolism.
Figure 1. Model of lac operon, comparing repressed and active states
Which is a scientific claim that is consistent with the information provided and Figure 1 ?
(A) The presence of excess lactose blocks the functioning of polymerase in this operon.
(B) When bound to the operator, the repressor protein prevents lactose metabolism in E. coli.
(C) The binding of the repressor protein to the operator enables E. coli to metabolize lactose.
(D) Allolactose acts as an inducer that binds to the operator, allowing E. coli to metabolize lactose.
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Test Booklet
operons
6.
The Trp operon is a coordinately regulated group of genes (trpA–trpE) that are required for tryptophan biosynthesis
in E. coli. Based on the figure above, which of the following correctly describes the regulation of the Trp operon?
In the absence of tryptophan, the repressor is active and binds to the Trp operator, preventing RNA
(A)
polymerase from transcribing the operon.
In the presence of tryptophan, the repressor is active and binds to the Trp operator, preventing RNA
(B)
polymerase from transcribing the operon.
In the absence of tryptophan, the trpR gene is inactive, preventing the production of the repressor that blocks
(C)
expression of the operon.
In the presence of tryptophan, the trpR gene is inactive, preventing the production of the repressor that blocks
(D)
expression of the operon.
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operons
7. 26. The lac operon in E. coli consists of genes that code for enzymes necessary for the breakdown of lactose. When
lactose is absent, the operon is inactive because a repressor protein binds to a specific site in the lac operon. When
lactose is present, lactose molecules bind to the repressor protein, causing the repressor protein to dissociate from
the binding site. In the absence of glucose (a preferred energy source for bacteria), the protein CAP binds to a
regulatory site near the lac promoter to activate transcription of the lac operon.
The following symbols represent the macromolecules involved in regulation of the lac operon.
In the diagrams below, the horizontal line represents the lac operon and the bent arrow represents the transcription
start site of the lac operon. Which of the following diagrams best represents the scenario in which lactose is
available to the cell and glucose is absent?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)
Page 6 of 6 AP Biology
