In a significant breakthrough in the battle against diabetes, scientists at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have engineered a genetically modified cow capable of producing human insulin in its milk. Published in the Biotechnology Journal, this research presents a potential game-changer in insulin production, offering hope for addressing the global insulin supply challenge.
Traditionally, insulin for diabetic patients is manufactured using genetically modified bacteria or yeast. However, this novel approach utilizes genetically modified cows to produce insulin, presenting a revolutionary alternative for insulin production.
The research team achieved this feat by introducing a specific segment of human DNA, encoding proinsulin (a precursor to insulin), into cow embryos. These embryos were then implanted into normal cows, resulting in the birth of a healthy calf. While natural pregnancy attempts were unsuccessful, the researchers successfully induced lactation in the genetically modified cow.
Analysis of the cow’s milk revealed the presence of proteins similar in molecular mass to human proinsulin and insulin. Moreover, evidence suggests that the milk may have facilitated the conversion of proinsulin into insulin. Despite initial low production levels, researchers are optimistic about the scalability of this approach.
The authors highlight the potential of recombinant protein expression in the milk of transgenic cows, emphasizing its significance once milk proteases can process the protein, converting recombinant protein into functional insulin. However, challenges remain, as some milk proteases may degrade the recombinant protein.
This groundbreaking research paves the way for a stable and potentially more cost-effective supply of insulin for diabetic individuals worldwide, offering a promising avenue for enhancing diabetes treatment and management.
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