How is gene expression different in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

Gene regulation differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes in a few ways.

There are multiple ways gene regulation differs between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.

Prokaryotics don't have a nucleus but eukaryotics do (see image below).

How is gene expression different in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

  • So transcription and its regulation in prokaryotics is much simpler. But the eukaryotes have to transcribe and then have a process for mRNA processing like capping, splicing and adding ply adenine tail, and then have a special mechanism to transport the processed mature mRNA to the cytoplasm from the nucleus.
  • Because prokayotes don't have a nuclear membrane, transcription and translation can occur at opposite ends of the mRNA molecule at the same time. This is not true for eukaryotes.

  • Transcription is responsible for most gene regulation in prokaryotes but in eukaryoes gene regulation is more complicated and genes are regulated before and after transcription (see image below).

How is gene expression different in prokaryotes and eukaryotes?

  • And another difference is that eukaryotes don't express their genes all at once; they express one at a time. Prokaryotes do.

  • Prokaryotes don't contain introns. So splicing of introns and joining of exons are not needed. But in eukaryotics, splicing of introns and joining of exons is needed.

Posted August 11, 2022


Prokaryotic organisms are single-celled organisms that do not have a defined nucleus. Their DNA floats freely within the cell cytoplasm. Eukaryotic cells are more complex. They have intracellular organelles and their DNA is contained inside the cell’s nucleus where it is transcribed into RNA. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic gene expression are two processes involved in the transcription of genes. These are the key differences between the two processes: 

Basis of Comparison Prokaryotic Gene Expression Eukaryotic Gene Expression
Definition Refers to the process by which information from the prokaryotic genes is used to synthesize a functional gene product Refers to the process by which information from eukaryotic genes is used to synthesize a functional gene product
Occurrence Entire process occurs in the cytoplasm A part of the process (transcription) occurs inside the nucleus, another part of the process (translation) occurs in the cytoplasm
Regulation Regulation occurs at the transcriptional level Regulation may occur at epigenetic, transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, and post-translational levels
Assembly of transcription initiation factors Transcription initiation factors do not assemble with the initiation complex Transcription initiation factors assemble with the initiation complex
Temporal segregation  Transcription and translation occur simultaneously Transcription and translation occur at different times 
Promoter elements Contains only 3 promoter elements Contains a much larger set of promoter elements including the TATA box
Types of RNA polymerase Uses a single type of RNA polymerase Uses 3 types of RNA polymerases 
Type of mRNA produced Results in polycistronic mRNA Results in monocistronic mRNA
Post-Transcriptional Modifications Does not include post-transcriptional modifications Includes post-transcriptional modifications

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15. Central Dogma & Gene Regulation

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Review of Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Gene Expression

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There are a variety of sigma factors that affect transcription.

Sigma factors are parts of RNA polymerase that recognize promoter regions.

It occurs in the nucleus.

Termination occurs when a stem-loop is formed or due to the presence of Rho protein.

The prokaryotic mRNA does not include introns & does not need to be processed.

Eukaryotes have monocistronic mRNA while prokaryotes can have polycistronic mRNA.

Eukaryotic transcription occurs in the nucleus, while prokaryotic transcription occurs in the cytoplasm.

Eukaryotes use transcription factor proteins in transcription, while prokaryotes use sigma factors.

Simultaneous transcription and translation occur in prokaryotes but not eukaryotes.

All of the above are major differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic transcription.

Because in prokaryotes, transcription and translation both occur in the cytoplasm.

Because in eukaryotes, transcription and translation do not occur in the same location within the cell.

Because prokaryotes have polycistronic mRNA while eukaryotes have monocistronic mRNA.

Because prokaryotes use sigma factors while eukaryotes use transcription factors.

What is the difference between eukaryote and prokaryote gene expression?

Prokaryotic gene expression (both transcription and translation) occurs within the cytoplasm of a cell due to the lack of a defined nucleus; thus, the DNA is freely located within the cytoplasm. Eukaryotic gene expression occurs in both the nucleus (transcription) and cytoplasm (translation).

How is eukaryotic gene expression different from prokaryotic gene expression quizlet?

Eukaryotes regulate gene expression through the use of protein transcription factors whereas prokaryotes do not. Eukaryotes regulate gene expression primarily post-transcriptionally, whereas prokaryotes primarily regulate transcription.

How is gene expression in prokaryotes and eukaryotes similar?

How are Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Gene Expression similar? Both require the participation of regulatory proteins, some of which (transcription factors) attach directly to DNA sequences. eukaryotes: activator proteins act on enhancer DNA sequences; repressor proteins act on silencer DNA sequences.

Why is gene expression faster in prokaryotes than in eukaryotes?

When more protein is required, more transcription occurs. Therefore, in prokaryotic cells, the control of gene expression is almost entirely at the transcriptional level. Eukaryotic cells, in contrast, have intracellular organelles and are much more complex.