Question

Some of the steps involved in the production of Humulin are given below. Choose the correct statements regarding it.

i) Synthesis of gene (segment of DNA) for human insulin artificially and insertion of the gene into retroviral vectors.
ii) Introduction of recombinant plasmid into Escherichia coli and culturing recombinant cells in bioreactors.
iii) Extraction of recombinant gene product from Escherichia coli.
iv) Purification of humulin.

• A. i, ii, iii, iv
• B. ii, iii, iv
• C. i, ii, iv
• D. i, ii, iii

Answer 1

The correct option is B ii, iii, iv

Humulin is human insulin produced by recombinant DNA technology using a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli. It possesses the same number of amino acids which is present in human insulin.

Steps involved in the production of humulin are as follows:-

i) The first step involves the synthesis of genes encoding A and B chains separately for human insulin in the artificial condition and insertion of the gene into two different plasmids. The plasmid is chosen such that it possesses β-galactosidase gene for identification of the recombinants also.
ii) The introduction of the recombinant plasmid into Escherichia coli is done followed by the culturing of recombinant host cells in bioreactors.
iii) Extraction of the two recombinant gene products, A and B chains from Escherichia coli.
iv) Chemical cross linking of purified A and B chains is done by disulphide bonds to produce humulin. Finally, purification of humulin is done.