The three operators of the lac operon cooperate in repression

We tested the effect of systematic destruction of all three lac operators of the chromosomal lac operon of Escherichia coli on repression by Lac repressor. Absence of just one 'pseudo-operator' O₂ or O₃ decreases repression by wild-type tetrameric Lac repressor ~ 2- to 3-fold; absence of both 'pseudo-operators' decreases repression > 50-fold. O₁ alone represses under these conditions only ~ 20-fold. Dimeric active Lac repressor (i(adi)) represses the wild-type lac operon to about the same low extent. This indicates that cooperative interaction between lac operators is due to DNA loop formation mediated by tetrameric Lac repressor. Under conditions where loop formation is impossible, occupation of O₃ but not of O₂ may lead to weak repression. This suggests that under these conditions CAP activation may be inhibited and that stopping transcription at O₂ does not significantly contribute to repression.