Part:BBa_K2936007

LacZ alpha

An alpha peptide chain encoded by a gene LacZ

Description

Short description: Reporter gene.
The LacZ alpha gene is one of the structural genes present on the Lac Operon in Escherichia coli bacteria . When transcribed by RNA polymerase , the LacZ alpha gene codes for β-galactosidase , an enzyme responsible for the hydrolysis of β-galactosides (e.g. 2-Nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) ).

Source

E. coli

Design consideration

LacZ alpha gene encodes the β-galactosidase, which could react with 2-Nitrophenyl β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) to generate orange color.

Mechanism