If lactose is present in the environment of an E. coli cell:

Last updated: 8/2/2022

If lactose is present in the environment of an E. coli cell: The lactose will trigger increased replication of the gene for B-galactosidase The lactose will bind to the repressor protein causing it to change shape and be released from the operator region The lac operon will hydrolyse the lactose into ß-glucose and B-galactose The lactose will bind to the repressor protein causing it to change shape so that it can bind to the regulator gene in the operon