Scientists generated a transgenic cow that produces milk with human insulin. Their research may help patients with diabetes.
Insulin deficiency or resistance may cause diabetes, which is a disease that can severely damage various body organs. In order for their body to function properly, diabetics need to inject insulin for their whole lives. Researchers need to find better alternatives to address this disease.
Scientists from various institutions in Brazil and the USA produced transgenic cattle that give milk with proinsulin and insulin. Mass spectrometry detected that insulin is more abundant than proinsulin and identified that proteases in the milk can convert the proinsulin into insulin. Their findings also showed that an insulin-degrading enzyme can break down the recombinant protein.
(Source: Crop Biotech Update, International Service for Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications. www.isaaa.org)
