The sodB operon in E. coli contains one gene, sodB, that produces the protein superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase takes superoxide radicals found in the cell and adds a hydrogen molecule to them, forming hydrogen peroxide and oxygen, which are less harmful to the cell. This operon is regulated by small regulator RNA molecules, which bind to the complementary mRNA present in the promoter and gene region of the operon. This prevents translation from occurring, so the protein cannot be produced. The operon is also regulated by DNA-binding transcriptional repressors, which instead bind to the DNA and prevents transcription from occurring in various ways.

Operon: Iron Superoxide Dismutase References