Biotechnology Flashcards
1
Q
old insulin treatment
A
- Insulin purified from pancreas of cattle or pigs
- Human amino acid sequence similar but not identical
- Immune responses range from local irritation to anaphylactic shock
- Not always 100% pure
2
Q
recombinant human protein formation process
A
- Get DNA encoding a protein of interest e.g. Insulin from pancreatic cells
- Clone DNA into an expression plasmid, along with promotor to bind transcription factors and RNA Pol to allow expression of DNA into RNA and AB resistance gene to protect bacteria against antibiotics
- Transfer plasmid into your favourite cell type (bacteria, yeast, mammalian, insect) or creature (plant or animal)
- Let the cells produce lots of protein
3
Q
advantages of recombinant protein using bacteria
A
- Not contaminated with pathogens in pigs/cattle
- Makes pure human insulin
- Cheaper
- High yield
4
Q
disadvantages of recombinant proteins using bacteria
A
- Proteins often partially folded
- Inability to perform post-translational modifications
5
Q
production of insulin
A
- Insulin has no post-translation modifications therefore can be produced in bacteria, which cannot do PTM’s
- produced as two chains which are then connected by disulfide bridges afterwards
6
Q
production of EPO in CHO cells
A
- erythropoeitin EPO, used as performance enhancing drug, requires glycosylation
- made in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in culture
- increase in RBCs leads to an increase in the oxygenation of muscle
7
Q
3 methods of producing recomb human proteins
A
- produced in bacteria if no PTM’s needed
- produced in CHO cells if some PTM’s required
- produced in whole animals if all PTM’s required
8
Q
why do we need recombinant EPO
A
- Many disease states result in lowered red blood cell counts
- chronic renal failure can cause a decrease in EPO levels, leading to anaemia (decrease in red blood cell levels)
- cancer treatments (chemotherapy) may lead to anaemia
9
Q
advantages and disadvantages of whole animal recomb protein production
A
advantages:
- can do all PTMs
- easy extraction (via milk)
- large amounts of therapeutic protein produced
disadvantages:
- time, money and labour intensive
- requires sacrifice of animal
10
Q
advantages and disadvantages of using eukaryotic animal cells (CHO cells)
A
advantages:
- can perform most types of PTMs
disadvantages:
- cannot perform some types of PTMs
11
Q
antithrombin production using whole animals
A
- AT is anti-blood clotting factor and activates/regulates blood clotting when appropriate (by preventing when not needed)
- T protein expressed in the milk of transgenic goats at lactation
- AT then purified from other milk proteins
12
Q
what is gene therapy
A
- taking plasmid with human gene and promoter and putting it directly into humans via a virus vector which protects it from body cells
- Permanent fix - inserting gene that encodes recombinant protein into body, rather than directing recombinant itself into body (temporary)
13
Q
method of gene therapy
A
- Virus is coated in specific protein that allows us to target cell of interest
- Often HIV virus is used - must delete HIV genome and add plasmid and promoter
- Virus infects cell and introduces corrected gene (+ promoter) into cell chromosome
- Results in correct human protein being produced
14
Q
treating type I diabetes using gene therapy
A
- Beta cells in pancreas destroyed = autoantibodies recognise proteins on beta cell surface = no insulin produced.
- Virus carrying corrected gene and promoter has surface proteins specific to liver cells, which target liver cells and turn them into insulin making machines
15
Q
what is Cas9
A
- enzyme that cleaves DNA – double strand breaks
- dependant on guide RNA binding to complementary sequence
- normally double strand break is repaired though non-homologous end joining but if a donor sequence is present in nucleus then homology directed repair can occur which fixes mutations
