Question

In which bacteria is insulin cloned?

Answer 1

Insulin:

1. Peptide hormone (formed of 2 peptide chains-A and B) secreted by β-cells of islets of Langerhans in the pancreas.
2. In mammals including humans, it is a prohormone (that needs to be processed before it becomes functional) that contains an extra stretch called C peptide which is absent in mature insulin.
3. It helps in maintaining normal blood glucose levels by regulating carbohydrate, lipid, and protein metabolism.
4. Deficiency of insulin can result in diabetes or insulin resistance.

Genetically engineered insulin/ insulin cloning:

1. Management of the onset of diabetes is possible by administering genetically engineered or cloned insulin.
2. The process involved the following steps: -

Insulin cloning:

1. Human pancreatic cells are used to extract the two genes needed to produce insulin chains A and B, which are then used to produce human insulin.
2. In the second step, plasmid DNA is extracted from bacteria to create a plasmid vector.
3. Then add the human genes that make chains A and B of insulin to this plasmid vector.
4. As a result, recombinant DNA is produced
5. Recombinant DNA is then reintroduced into the bacterial cell as the next step.
6. The recombinant bacteria is created as a result.
7. After that, add the recombinant bacteria to the significant fermentation tank, where it grows.
8. Chains A and B of human insulin are produced by every bacteria.
9. Human insulin is made by extracting, purifying, and combining these A and B insulin chains through the formation of disulfide bonds.

Figure showing human insulin production: