The operon hypothesis was proposed by Fancois Jacob and Jacques Monod, and was an explanation for gene

expression and regulation in prokaryotes. Jacob and Monod proposed the hypothesis that DNA consists of genes coding for both structural and regulating proteins. An operon is a group of closely linked genes that produces a single messenger RNA molecule in transcription and that consists of structural genes and regulating elements. The main parts to an operon include the structural genes, the operator, the regulatory genes, and the promoter. The promoter is a nucleotide sequence that enables a gene to be transcribed; the promoter is recognized by RNA polymerase, which then initiates transcription. The operator is a segment of DNA where the repressor binds to, thereby preventing the transcription of certain genes. Next, a structural gene is a gene that codes for any RNA or protein product other than a regulatory factor. Transcription depends on the regulator; it may be located anywhere on the bacterial chromosome. The regulator codes for the repressor, which binds to the operator. When the repressor is bound to the operator, it blocks the promoter; therefore, the RNA polymerase either can't bind to the DNA molecule or it can't begin its movement along the molecule. Another molecule involved in this process of gene regulation is the inducer. Inducers function by disabling repressors. By binding to the repressor, it prevents the repressor from binding to the operator. RNA polymerase can then begin to transcribe operon genes. This regulatory process prevents the cell from making too much or too little of a necessary substance. There are two different models of an operon: inducible and repressible. The inducible model is often involved in a catabolic pathway, and is when an early metabolite in the pathway causes activation (meaning the gene is by default turned off). This most common example is the lac operon involving lactose and the enzyme to break it into monosaccharides. In contrast, the repressible model is an operon that acts in anabolic pathways. The operon is always on, meaning the gene is not being transcribed by default. The most common example of the repressible model is the trp operon involving the production of tryptophan. In addition, one way to speed up transcription when in high demand is through CAP (catabolic activator protein). CAP binds to the promoter of the lac operon and stimulates transcription. This happens when cAMP levels rise and the amount of glucose transported into the cell is low, but lactose is readily available.