What do regulatory genes produce?

What do regulatory genes produce?

• A. Lipids that anchor membranes.
• B. Proteins that catalyze metabolic reactions.
• C. Proteins that control the expression of other genes.
• D. RNA molecules that degrade mRNA.

Answer: (C)

Regulatory genes encode factors that control when and how much other genes are expressed. Their products are usually regulatory proteins, such as transcription factors, repressors, or activators, which bind to DNA near target genes and influence RNA polymerase activity. By turning genes on or off, or dialing expression up or down, these regulators coordinate cellular responses, development, and metabolism. For example, a repressor can block transcription when a signal is absent, while an activator can enhance transcription when a signal is present. While there are regulatory RNAs that modulate gene expression, the traditional concept linked to regulatory genes is proteins that directly control the expression levels of other genes.

Regulatory genes encode factors that control when and how much other genes are expressed. Their products are usually regulatory proteins, such as transcription factors, repressors, or activators, which bind to DNA near target genes and influence RNA polymerase activity. By turning genes on or off, or dialing expression up or down, these regulators coordinate cellular responses, development, and metabolism. For example, a repressor can block transcription when a signal is absent, while an activator can enhance transcription when a signal is present. While there are regulatory RNAs that modulate gene expression, the traditional concept linked to regulatory genes is proteins that directly control the expression levels of other genes.