Inducible Operon

An inducible operon is a group of genes in bacteria that are typically turned off but can be activated quickly in response to a specific molecule called an inducer. When the inducer is present, it binds to a repressor protein that normally blocks gene activity, causing the repressor to release and allowing the genes to be expressed. This mechanism enables bacteria to efficiently produce certain enzymes only when needed, conserving resources. A common example is the lac operon in E. coli, which activates the production of enzymes to digest lactose when lactose is available.