• Question: At the recent level of advancement of biotechnology,what are the main techniques of genetically manipulating proteins? If you used recombinant DNA technology to create transgenic organisms, such as insulin producing bacteria?

    Asked by Quantum mechanics to Sandra on 6 Mar 2017.
    • Photo: Sandra Greive

      Sandra Greive answered on 6 Mar 2017:

      The main techniques for genetically manipulating proteins use signals in the DNA code to alter the amino acid content at specific sites in the chain. One of the most recent advances is to insert non-natural amino acids by expanding the genetic code. This takes one of the translation stop codons and reprogrammed it to put a new amino acid into the protein. This altered amino acid is very similar to a normal one (like phenylalanine) but has a chemical tag added that allows the protein to undergo new chemical reactions – and allow labelling with two differently coloured fluorescent tags at specific places in the protein. By tracking the changes in the interaction between the different coloured light emitted by these fluorescent tags, it is possible to watch the protein moving or flexing as it functions. I think this is one of the coolest uses of quantum mechanics in biology.

      Most of my work involves making transgenic bacteria that I use to produce the proteins whose function I am trying to understand. It is totally possible that one day I might have a protein with a useful function that I can make out of bacteria. Kind of like the enzymes in washing powder.

      Insulin producing bacteria, what a fantastic idea! At the moment not all proteins can be made in bacteria as they lack the protein production machinery found in Eukaryotic cells that is needed for these proteins to be processed and produced properly. Insulin is currently one of these. However, maybe someone will make a transgenic bacteria that contains the required protein production machines to produce insulin. Once an organism like this is made it would be simple to grow and produce. Scientists are working on something similar, using transgenic pancreatic cells to correct the glucose sensing and insulin production problems for diabetics. See this recent article. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/01/160125161152.htm

Comments

  • Photo: Sandra

    Sandra commented on :

    Actually I was just chatting to a friend that works on insulin and diabetes and he said that Eli Lilly had already made a bacterial cell that was capable of expressing insulin. Sorry I didn’t know this already. Your idea was so good a company did it and is making money out of it as we speak. Keep up the good ideas!