The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell is much larger than a bacterium, and it contains much more
Question:
The nucleus of a eukaryotic cell is much larger than a bacterium, and it contains much more DNA. As a consequence, a transcription regulator in a eukaryotic cell must be able to select its specific binding site from among many more unrelated sequences than does a transcription regulator in a bacterium. Does this present any special problems for eukaryotic gene regulation?
Consider the following situation. Assume that the eukaryotic nucleus and the bacterial cell each have a single copy of the same DNA binding site. In addition, assume that the nucleus is 500 times the volume of the bacterium, and has 500 times as much DNA. If the concentration of the transcription regulator that binds the site were the same in the nucleus and in the bacterium, would the regulator occupy its binding site equally as well in the eukaryotic nucleus as it does in the bacterium? Explain your answer.
Step by Step Answer:
Molecular Biology Of The Cell
ISBN: 9780815344322
6th Edition
Authors: Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter