The lac operon in E. coli is a polycistronic structural gene regulated by a common promoter and regulatory genes. The three structural genes code for specific enzymes required for lactose metabolism:
• z gene: Codes for beta-galactosidase ($\beta$-gal), which is primarily responsible for the hydrolysis of the disaccharide lactose into its monomeric units, galactose and glucose.
• y gene: Codes for permease, which increases the permeability of the cell to $\beta$-galactosides (lactose).
• a gene: Codes for transacetylase.