BIOTECHNOLOGY - V. H. Gerasymenko - 2006

Part II. Special Biotechnologies

Chapter 12. BIOTECHNOLOGY OF HORMONE PRODUCTION

12.2. PRODUCTION OF INSULIN

12.2.1. Traditional Ways of Obtaining Insulin

In 1921, Banting and Best in Toronto first isolated an anti-diabetic hormone from a dog's Pancreas, and as early as 1922, animal-derived Insulin was administered to a human (a nine-year-old diabetic boy) with remarkable success. Just a year later, the American company Eli Lilly released the first commercial animal insulin product.

In 1935, Danish researcher Hagedorn optimized the Action of Insulin in the body by developing a long-acting insulin preparation. Its absorption was slowed down by The addition of protamine, and later zinc. In 1946, Danish researchers obtained neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin, which came into widespread use in insulin therapy. The first insulin crystals were obtained in 1952, and the advancement of hormone purification Methods (such as Immunoelectrophoresis and liquid Chromatography) from other hormonal substances and various insulin degradation products made it possible to obtain homogeneous insulin, known as monocomponent insulin.

The hormone lacks strict species Specificity, which is why animal insulin can be used to treat humans. The raw Materials for obtaining animal insulin are the pancreases of cattle and pigs that are discarded by the meat-packing and canning industries and supplied by slaughterhouses. A cow's pancreas weighs 200-250 g, and obtaining 100 g of crystalline insulin requires 800-1000 kg of raw material. Given that the number of insulin-dependent individuals is steadily increasing, the supply of insulin derived from these animals would be insufficient. Furthermore, animal insulin differs from human insulin by 1–3 amino acid residues, which can trigger various allergic reactions and, with prolonged use, lead to Kidney dysfunction and visual impairment. Porcine Insulin is the closest in Structure to human insulin. Large-scale THERAPEUTIC USE OF insulin was hindered by its high cost, limited resources, and various complications. This necessitated the Production of Human insulin via bacterial expression systems.