Repressible genes typically regulate gene expression of enzymes involved in anabolic pathways.

Repressible genes are often involved in anabolic pathways where the end product of the pathway can act as a corepressor, binding to a repressor protein and activating it to bind to the operator site, thereby inhibiting the transcription of genes involved in the pathway. This is a feedback inhibition mechanism to regulate the synthesis of substances the cell currently has in sufficient quantities.