Recombinant Proteins Using Monosodium Glutamate

• 31 May 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru have made a significant breakthrough in the mass production of recombinant proteins by utilising Monosodium Glutamate (MSG).

• This advancement is crucial for producing essential substances like vaccine antigens, insulin, and monoclonal antibodies.

What are Recombinant Proteins?

• About:
  • Recombinant proteins are proteins engineered in the lab by inserting the gene coding for the protein into bacterial, viral, or mammalian cells.
• Production:
  • Typically, these proteins are produced in large bioreactors using the cells of a specific yeast which contains a unique promoter, called the alcohol oxidase (AOX) promoter.
  • The AOX promoter can be activated by methanol to produce recombinant proteins in large quantities.
    • The process involves inserting the desired gene next to the AOX promoter, feeding the yeast with glycerol or glucose, and then adding methanol to activate protein production.
• Risks with Methanol:
  • It is highly flammable and hazardous, requiring stringent safety measures. It can also produce harmful byproducts like hydrogen peroxide, which can induce oxidative stress in yeast cells or damage the recombinant proteins.
• Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - a Safer Alternative:
  • MSG can activate a different promoter in the yeast genome that codes for an enzyme called phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), leading to protein production similar to the methanol-induced process, without the associated risks.
  • MSG is safer and more environmentally friendly compared to the traditional methanol-induced process. It can be used in biotech industries to mass-produce valuable proteins, including: milk and egg proteins, baby food supplements, nutraceuticals, and therapeutic molecules.

Methanol

• It is the simplest alcohol (also known as Wood alcohol or Methyl alcohol) with the chemical formula CH₃OH. It appears as a colourless, fairly volatile liquid with a faintly sweet pungent odour, and completely mixes with water.
  • Methanol is flammable, light, and poisonous, and its consumption can cause blindness.
• Methanol was first isolated by Robert Boyle and is now prepared by the direct combination of carbon monoxide gas and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst.
  • It is commonly used as a laboratory solvent and as a denaturant additive in the manufacturing of ethanol.
• Methanol has various uses, including in polymers, production of hydrocarbons, and as a fuel for internal combustion engines.

UPSC Civil Services Examination, Previous Year Question (PYQ)

Prelims

Q. What is Cas9 protein that is often mentioned in news? (2019)

(a) A molecular scissors used in targeted gene editing

(b) A biosensor used in the accurate detection of pathogens in patients

(c) A gene that makes plants pest-resistant

(d) A herbicidal substance synthesised in genetically modified crops

Ans: (a)