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Regulation of expression of lac operon by a novel function essential for cell growth

Abstract

THE study of the in vitro transcription of the lac operon using a soluble fraction of bacteria and DNA containing the genes of the lac operon, indicates that gene expression is controlled by both the inducer–operator interaction1 and the action of cyclic AMP2–6. We have studied the mutant tsC42 (described previously7) and report that the in vivo expression of the lac operon is under the control of a phase-specific protein which is only synthesised or activated 20–30 min before cell division. This protein is essential for both the formation of membrane components and cell growth, as described previously7. We describe procedures for the isolation of the mutant and report its specific inability to express the lac operon at the transcriptional level.

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OHKI, M., SATO, S. Regulation of expression of lac operon by a novel function essential for cell growth. Nature 253, 654–656 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253654a0

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