Structural gene

Structural gene is a type of gene that codes for any RNA or protein product other than a regulatory factor (i.e., enzyme or structural protein). Structural genes are responsible for the synthesis of proteins that function in the cell as enzymes or as structural elements.

Overview

Structural genes are the segments of DNA that code for the amino acid sequence of a protein product. These genes are transcribed into messenger RNA (mRNA), which is then translated into protein by the ribosome. The protein product may be an enzyme, a structural component of the cell, or a hormone.

Structural genes are distinct from regulatory genes, which code for proteins that regulate the expression of other genes. Regulatory genes produce proteins such as transcription factors, which bind to the promoter region of a gene and either enhance or inhibit its transcription.

Function

The primary function of structural genes is to code for proteins that carry out the various functions of the cell. These proteins may be enzymes, which catalyze chemical reactions, or structural proteins, which provide physical support and shape to the cell.

Structural genes also play a crucial role in the process of cell differentiation, where a cell changes from one cell type to another. During this process, certain structural genes are turned on or off, leading to the production of different proteins and thus different cell types.

See also

• Operon
• Gene expression
• Gene regulation
• Transcription (genetics)
• Translation (biology)

References

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