List the structural genes involved in the digestion of lactose in E.coli.Highlight the function of any one

a. List the structural genes involved in the digestion of lactose in E.coli.Highlight the function of any one.
b. What triggers the transcription of these genes?

a. There are three structural genes which transcibe a polycistronic mRNA.

  1. Gene z codes b-gal, which catalyses the hydrolysis of lactose into galactose and glucose.
  2. Gene y codes for permease, which increases the permeability of the cell to lactose.
  3. Gene a codes for transacetylase, which catalyses the transacetylation of lactose into its active form.
    b. RNA polymerase triggers the transcription of these genes.