Gene Expression in Prokaryotes

Le résumé fourni par la source

Gene expression (GE) in prokaryotic organisms appears simple, but it indicates a quite complex structure. These organisms comprise a single cell with no distinct nucleus. The DNA of prokaryotes floats freely in the liquid matrix known as the “cytoplasm.” Prokaryotic proteins are made through the processes of transcription and translation, which occur in the same cellular compartments. It has been observed that the resulting protein is not required when the phenomenon of transcription is completed, which mainly depends on the availability or lack of nutrients in the environment. The GE process starts with transcription, where RNA polymerase binds to the promoter region of a gene on the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and prepares a complementary mRNA strand. The messenger RNA (mRNA) acts as a template. Then, the mRNA template activates the translation process for protein formation. Hence, the expression of genes appears at the transcription level in prokaryotic organisms. Prokaryotic GE lacks introns, and usually, the mRNA produced is polycistronic, which can code for many proteins. The ribosome binds directly to the mRNA, initiating translation and synthesizing the polypeptide chain. The coupling of transcription and translation allows prokaryotes to rapidly respond to environmental changes. Operons also regulate prokaryotic GE, as seen in bacteria. Their multiple genes are joined together with a promoter and an operator. The operons are determined by using RT-PCR, northern blot, and 174 GE assays ( Betsy and Siva, 2023 ; Ramos et al., 2013 ). The bacterial GE level can be measured directly using next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, which have much greater accuracy and sensitivity than previous protocols.

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