Is it necessary in an operon for the operator to be within the promoter region - at least partially?

Question

miracrown · Answer

http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/biocoach/lacoperon/operator.html The operator is usually (at least partially) within the promoter like the diagram shows in the website above. I cannot find an instance where the operator is outside this area. The analogy on that page helps to explain why. The doorknob and key helps us to visualize it. You can't really have one without the other - the lock wouldn't work. And the specific promotor and operator help to make a specific protein.

anonymous · Answer

I've never heard of one that is not.  The job of the operator is to block the promotor by blocking RNA polymerase from attaching at the promotor.  It's have to be there or very close to do that.