Modified Sheep to Produce Aat
Task 2
Modified sheep to produce AAT
There are various genetically modified organisms that have been created; some of these organisms are genetically modified crops while others are genetically modified animals. These organisms are modified for many reasons such as improving the field of medicine or improving the shelf life of crops. This essay will describe how a sheep was modified to produce the protein AAT.
The protein AAT (alpha-1-antitrypsin) has 394 amino acids and is necessary to prevent the damage of the liver and lungs by an enzyme (human leukocyte elastase) that is part of the immune system. This protein is normally produced by the liver but due to a mutation this protein is unable to carry out its normal function meaning that the enzyme is able to damage the organs of the body. The mutation produces AAT with a Z allele which causes emphysema; the mutated gene cannot inhibit elastase due to a change in the amino acid sequence which changes the conformation of the protein meaning that it cannot fit in the active site on the elastase.
The first stage was to isolate the human gene responsible for the protein AAT; this was done by identifying the required gene and then restriction enzymes are inserted into the nucleus of human cell. The DNA strand is then cut at specific sites (where the required AAT gene is). The enzymes are able to do this by hydrolysing the bonds between the nucleotide bases thus breaking the bonds. After the DNA has been cut by the restriction enzymes the piece of extracted DNA has sticky ends which will form complementary base pairs when the extracted gene binds with another strand of DNA. A gene promoter was added to the isolated gene so as to make the protein present in the sheep’s milk.
The second stage was to remove mature eggs from the ovary of a sheep. The isolated AAT gene and promoter were then inserted into a plasmid; this was done by inserting restriction enzymes into the plasmid and they cut the DNA at the same
Modified sheep to produce AAT
There are various genetically modified organisms that have been created; some of these organisms are genetically modified crops while others are genetically modified animals. These organisms are modified for many reasons such as improving the field of medicine or improving the shelf life of crops. This essay will describe how a sheep was modified to produce the protein AAT.
The protein AAT (alpha-1-antitrypsin) has 394 amino acids and is necessary to prevent the damage of the liver and lungs by an enzyme (human leukocyte elastase) that is part of the immune system. This protein is normally produced by the liver but due to a mutation this protein is unable to carry out its normal function meaning that the enzyme is able to damage the organs of the body. The mutation produces AAT with a Z allele which causes emphysema; the mutated gene cannot inhibit elastase due to a change in the amino acid sequence which changes the conformation of the protein meaning that it cannot fit in the active site on the elastase.
The first stage was to isolate the human gene responsible for the protein AAT; this was done by identifying the required gene and then restriction enzymes are inserted into the nucleus of human cell. The DNA strand is then cut at specific sites (where the required AAT gene is). The enzymes are able to do this by hydrolysing the bonds between the nucleotide bases thus breaking the bonds. After the DNA has been cut by the restriction enzymes the piece of extracted DNA has sticky ends which will form complementary base pairs when the extracted gene binds with another strand of DNA. A gene promoter was added to the isolated gene so as to make the protein present in the sheep’s milk.
The second stage was to remove mature eggs from the ovary of a sheep. The isolated AAT gene and promoter were then inserted into a plasmid; this was done by inserting restriction enzymes into the plasmid and they cut the DNA at the same