Which one of the following pairs of microbial product and its use is incorrectly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Cyclosporin A – blood-cholesterol lowering agent
Microbes give us many enzymes and bioactive molecules, and each has its own use. Cyclosporin A, made by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum, is an immunosuppressive agent given to organ-transplant patients. The blood-cholesterol lowering agents are the statins, made by the yeast Monascus purpureus.
Option (1) Lipases – detergent formulations for removing oily stains from laundry — Correctly matched. Lipases are used in detergent formulations and help remove oily stains from laundry.
Option (2) Pectinases and proteases – clarifying bottled fruit juices — Correctly matched. Bottled fruit juices are clearer than home-made ones because they are clarified by pectinases and proteases.
Option (3) Streptokinase – ‘clot buster’ for removing clots from blood vessels — Correctly matched. Streptokinase from the bacterium Streptococcus, modified by genetic engineering, is a ‘clot buster’ for patients who have had a heart attack.
Option (4) Cyclosporin A – blood-cholesterol lowering agent — Incorrectly matched. Cyclosporin A suppresses the immune response so that a transplanted organ is not rejected. Lowering blood cholesterol is the use of statins, not of cyclosporin A.
NCERT Extract:
Chemicals, Enzymes and other Bioactive Molecules – “… Lipases are used in detergent formulations and are helpful in removing oily stains from the laundry. You must have noticed that bottled fruit juices bought from the market are clearer as compared to those made at home. This is because the bottled juices are clarified by the use of pectinases and proteases. Streptokinase produced by the bacterium Streptococcus and modified by genetic engineering is used as a ‘clot buster’ for removing clots from the blood vessels of patients who have undergone myocardial infarction leading to heart attack. Another bioactive molecule, cyclosporin A, that is used as an immunosuppressive agent in organ-transplant patients, is produced by the fungus Trichoderma polysporum. Statins produced by the yeast Monascus purpureus have been commercialised as blood-cholesterol lowering agents.”