A musical? travesty with apologies to:
Monty Python
Underdog
Richard Wagner
George Gershwin
George Frideric Handel
Mighty Mouse

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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
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Repressor (bound to the operator):
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I'm a repressor and I'm Okay,
I “operate” on DNA.
 I keep RNA polymerase away,
 Unless I get my Milky Way.
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Chorus:
 (S)He keeps RNA polymerase away,
 Unless (s)he gets his (her) Milky Way.

Scene 1 – Still in the glucose
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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.
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Chorus:
 Before she starts making RNA
 She must on her promoter be.
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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)
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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'.....
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RNA polymerase (resumes looking):
 Oh, where oh where is my promoter,
 Oh, where oh where can it be....?

Scene 3 – Impending Starvation
(no glucose)
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Chorus (throws cinnamon fire candy (cAMP)):
 No more glucose, we are starving,
 Send alarms, or else we die!
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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!

• 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!