Trp operon

Definition

The trp operon is a set of genes in bacteria that are responsible for the synthesis of tryptophan, an essential amino acid. It consists of a promoter region, operator region, and structural genes.

Related terms

Promoter:

A region of DNA where RNA polymerase binds to initiate transcription.

Operator: A regulatory sequence in DNA that controls whether transcription can occur.

Structural Genes: Genes that encode proteins or enzymes involved in a specific biological function.