Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Biology

Chapter

Biotechnology and its Applications

Question:

Which company prepared human insulin in 1983?

 

Options:

Genetech

Eli Lilly

GEAC

None of these

Correct Answer:

Eli Lilly

Explanation:

The option 2 is correct . Eli Lilly

Insulin is composed of two short polypeptide chains, chain A and chain B, connected by disulfide bridges. In mammals, including humans, insulin is initially synthesized as a pro-hormone, which includes an additional segment known as the C peptide. During maturation into insulin, this C peptide is removed, and the insulin becomes fully mature and functional.

The main challenge faced in producing insulin using recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques was achieving the proper assembly of insulin into its mature form. This process involved ensuring that the two polypeptide chains (A and B) correctly combined and formed the necessary disulfide bridges to create functional insulin. Overcoming this challenge was critical in the successful production of human insulin using rDNA technology, which has become the standard insulin treatment for diabetic patients due to its higher purity and reduced risk of complications compared to animal-derived insulin.

In 1983, the American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly successfully created two DNA sequences corresponding to the A and B chains of human insulin. These DNA sequences were inserted into plasmids, which were then introduced into Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. Inside the E. coli cells, the A and B chains of insulin were produced independently as separate protein molecules. After extracting the A and B chains from the bacterial culture, they were combined and linked together through the formation of disulfide bonds, resulting in the creation of fully functional human insulin. This achievement marked a significant milestone in medicine, as it enabled the production of human insulin using recombinant DNA technology, revolutionizing the treatment of diabetes worldwide.