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.
Recombinant Proteins
- Recombinant proteins are proteins engineered in the lab by inserting the gene coding for the protein into bacterial, viral, or mammalian cells.
- 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.