TyrT operon explained

The tyrT operon is a series of genes encoding the tRNA for tyrosine in Escherichia coli. It is activated in response to amino acid starvation.^[1]

Components

The tyrT operon consists of an upstream activation sequence, the gene for the tyrosine tRNA called tRNA₁^Tyr, and an RNA called rtT RNA which has an unknown function.^[1]

Regulation

Transcription of the tyrT operon is activated by the stringent response.^[1] Binding of the FIS protein to the operon's upstream activation sequence tightly bends the DNA, promoting transcription.^[2]

Notes and References

1. A novel RNA product of the tyrT operon of Escherichia coli . Bosl M, Kersten H . Nucleic Acids Research . 19 . 21 . 5863–5870 . 329039 . 10.1093/nar/19.21.5863 . 1840671 . 1991.
2. DNA supercoiling and transcription in Escherichia coli: the FIS connection . Travers A, Schneider R, Muskhelishvili G . Biochimie . February 2001 . 83 . 2 . 213–217 . 11278071 . 10.1016/s0300-9084(00)01217-7.