Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biotechnology and its Applications

Question:

Here are the statements about insulin, select the incorrect statement from the given options.

 

Options:

Human insulin is made up of two polypeptide chains consisting of 51 amino acids.

The two polypeptide chains of insulin are linked together by disulfide bridges.

In mammals, including humans, insulin is initially synthesized as a prohormone containing an additional segment known as the C-peptide.

The mature insulin contains the C-peptide.

Correct Answer:

The mature insulin contains the C-peptide.

Explanation:

In the past, insulin used for diabetes treatment was derived from the pancreas of slaughtered cattle and pigs. However, this animal-source insulin sometimes caused patients to develop allergies or other reactions due to the foreign proteins present in it.

Insulin is composed of two short polypeptide chains, namely chain A and chain B, which are connected by disulfide bridges.

In mammals, including humans, insulin is initially produced as a prohormone, similar to a proenzyme that requires processing to become a fully mature and functional hormone. This prohormone contains an additional segment called the C-peptide. However, during the maturation process into insulin, the C-peptide is removed, and it is not present in the mature insulin.

The main challenge in producing insulin using recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques was achieving the assembly of insulin into its mature form. In 1983, the American company Eli Lilly prepared two DNA sequences corresponding to the A and B chains of human insulin and introduced them into plasmids of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria to produce insulin chains. The A and B chains were generated separately, extracted, and then combined by creating disulfide bonds to form human insulin. This process allowed for the production of synthetic human insulin through rDNA technology, providing a safer and more reliable source of insulin for diabetes management.