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The Lac Operetta. A musical? travesty with apologies to: Monty Python Underdog Richard Wagner George Gershwin George Frideric Handel Mighty Mouse. Cast of culprits, their tunes & props. RNA polymerase (Underdog song) Repressor (Lumberjack song, Summertime)
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The Lac Operetta A musical? travesty with apologies to: Monty Python Underdog Richard Wagner George Gershwin George Frideric Handel Mighty Mouse
Cast of culprits, their tunes & props • RNA polymerase (Underdog song) • Repressor (Lumberjack song, Summertime) • CAP protein (Mighty Mouse song) • Chorus (Ride of the Valkyries) • Lactose (Milky Way bars) • Glucose (Starbursts) • Cyclic AMP (Cinnamon Fire Jolly Ranchers)
Scene 1 – In the glucose • Repressor (bound to the operator): • I'm a repressor and I'm Okay, • I “operate” on DNA. • I keep RNA polymerase away, • Unless I get my Milky Way. • Chorus: • (S)He keeps RNA polymerase away, • Unless (s)he gets his (her) Milky Way.
Scene 1 – Still in the glucose • Enter RNA polymerase (searching along DNA): • Oh, where oh where is my promoter, • Oh, where oh where can it be? • Before I start making RNA • I must on my promoter be. • Chorus: • Before she starts making RNA • She must on her promoter be. • Repressor (blocks RNA polymerase): • I keep RNA polymerase away, • Unless I get my Milky Way!
Scene 2 – In the land of milk and honey (both glucose and lactose) • Repressor (grabbing Milky Way bars, floats away from the DNA): • Milky time, and the lactose is easy. • I've got my lactose, don't care about DNA no mo'..... • RNA polymerase (resumes looking): • Oh, where oh where is my promoter, • Oh, where oh where can it be....?
Scene 3 – Impending Starvation(no glucose) • Chorus (throws cinnamon fire candy (cAMP)): • No more glucose, we are starving, • Send alarms, or else we die! • CAP (catches a couple of red hots, binds to promoter, waves to RNA polymerase): • Have no fear, I'm on my way! • The lac promoter, is right here, • Polymerase, can get in gear! • Polymerize lac RNA!
Scene 3 – triumphant transcription; starvation averted • RNA polymerase transcribes lac RNA • Chorus: • RNA polymerase transcribeth, • Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah! • Ribosomes translate galactosidase, • Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah! • And we shall live for ever and ever! • And we shall live for ever and ever! • Hallelujah!