Inducer
Inducer
Inducer (/ɪnˈdjuːsər/), in the field of biology, is a molecule that regulates gene expression. It can either increase or decrease the expression of specific genes within an organism's DNA.
Etymology
The term 'inducer' originates from the Latin word 'inducere', which means 'to lead in' or 'to influence'. In the context of biology, an inducer influences the expression of genes.
Function
An inducer functions by binding to a specific protein known as a repressor. This binding changes the shape of the repressor, preventing it from binding to the operator, a segment of DNA that controls the access of RNA polymerase to the gene. This process allows the gene to be transcribed and subsequently expressed.
Types of Inducers
There are two main types of inducers: positive and negative.
- Positive inducers increase the rate of gene expression. They do this by binding to activators, proteins that increase the transcription of a gene or a set of genes.
- Negative inducers decrease the rate of gene expression. They do this by binding to repressors, preventing them from inhibiting gene transcription.
Related Terms
- Repressor: A protein that inhibits the expression of one or more genes by binding to the operator or associated silencers.
- Operator (biology): A segment of DNA to which a repressor binds.
- Activator (genetics): A protein that increases gene transcription of a gene or set of genes.
- Gene expression: The process by which information from a gene is used in the synthesis of a functional gene product.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Inducer
- Wikipedia's article - Inducer
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