Question

What is feedback repression?

Options

• When ribosomes stop translation of mRNA

• When genes are continuously expressed regardless of conditions

• When the end product is available, genes for its production are switched OFF

• When enzymes inhibit the production of substrates

Answer 1

Feedback repression occurs when the end product of a metabolic pathway is already available, causing the genes responsible for its production to be switched OFF. This is an efficient mechanism preventing wasteful overproduction of unnecessary enzymes and products.