NavyChief
VIP Member
- Sep 26, 2013
- 706
- 592
Understanding Recombinant DNA Technology and Usage for HGH Production
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a very essential natural substance in the body, with a deficiency capable of giving rise to a plethora of unpleasant symptoms. Individuals suffering from HGH deficiency are typically placed on injections of somatropin, which is growth hormone of rDNA origin. This biosynthetic alternative is so called because it is produced through the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. This modern method of growth hormone production is a lot safer and gives more efficient results than earlier techniques. It is therefore easy to understand why virtually all synthetic growth hormone products on the market are produced using this technique. What does rDNA technology entails? And how is it used to produce somatropin? Read on to find out.
What is recombinant DNA technology?
Recombinant DNA is a term used to describe DNA whose creation was brought about by the combination of two or more strands. DNA holds all information needed for the re-creation of an organism. Recombinant DNA molecules, sometimes referred to as chimeric DNA, are created through laboratory techniques of genetic recombination, which are aimed at uniting genetic material from diverse sources. These molecules are made by combining segments of at least two different molecules. It is possible to have these molecules because of the similarity in the chemical structure of DNA molecules from all living organisms. Recombinant DNA technology refers to the series of procedures that are used to join DNA segments together to form recombinant DNA molecules. The molecules so formed can enter and replicate in a cell on their own or as a result of integration into chromosomes. In other words, the technology enables virtually all DNA sequences to be formed and introduced into living organisms.
The idea of recombinant DNA is credited to Peter Lobban, then a graduate student at Stanford University Medical School. However, Stanley N. Cohen and Herbert W. Boyers are listed as the inventors in a U.S. patent applied for by Stanford University in 1974 and awarded in 1980. The first licensed medication to be produced through the use of recombinant DNA technology was human insulin by the biotechnology company Genentech Inc.
How recombinant DNA is constructed
Recombinant DNA is made through a laboratory process known as molecular cloning. It requires the existence of a cloning vector, a DNA molecule capable of replicating within living cells. Vectors are typically obtained from plasmids or viruses and the choice of the one for cloning is determined base on the host organism. A piece of DNA is inserted into the vector with a marker on it for easy identification of recombinant molecules. The vector is introduced into a host organism or cell, such as Escherichia Coli, which must have been prepared to harbor the foreign DNA. This is followed by selection of organisms with recombinant DNA and, finally, by screening for clones having targeted DNA inserts and biological properties.
Applications of rDNA technology
The relevance of recombinant technology has continued to grow since its introduction. It is today being used in many areas of human life. It is employed in the production of therapeutic agents in large quantity and at a more affordable cost. The therapeutic agents produced through the use of rDNA technology include antibiotics, hormones, growth factors, blood products such as albumin and thrombolytics, blood clotting factors, and cytokines. It is expected to even become more useful in the 21st century in combating the variety of genetic diseases confronting humans. The technology has also found usefulness in the diagnosis of people with HIV infection. The three widely-used techniques for diagnosing HIV infection are based on the use of recombinant DNA technology.
It isn't just about health and medicine, though. Recombinant technology is being used in agriculture and food production, among other areas. It has been utilized to develop better insect- and herbicide-resistant crops. The procedures have also been used to produce a variety of rice known as Golden rice, which is believed to hold great promise for dealing with Vitamin A deficiency cases across the globe.
Somatropin production
Somatropin is the biosynthetic variant of the natural growth hormone somatotropin, which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland in the head. This is a protein-based hormone with a 191 amino acid sequence and weight of about 22,000 daltons. The synthetic HGH we have today is practically identical to that which is produced in the body. It has similar molecular structure and composition making it a great alternative for those who are not able to make enough somatotropin in their body. Growth hormone delivers multiple benefits, but it is especially important for children because it promotes proper growth and development. Stunted growth is one of the possible adverse effects of HGH deficiency.
Before the introduction of HGH of rDNA origin, different attempts had been made to find a way to produce growth hormone that can be used to treat people suffering from deficiency. Growth hormone derived from cattle, bovine growth hormone (rBGH), was used for treatment at a point. But it had to be abandoned because of the disparity between molecular structure of HGH and rBGH.
Scientists tried growth hormone extracted from the pituitary gland of human cadavers next. But the production process was quite laborious and expensive. The final product was also at times unsafe for treatment of growth hormone deficiency in humans due to the presence of contaminants from the tissues of cadavers used.
In rare cases, the HGH so produced resulted in the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a highly fatal, progressive degenerative brain disorder comparable to mad cow disease in cattle.
The introduction of recombinant DNA technology practically put an end to the problems associated to bovine GH and HGH from cadavers. Genentech was the first pharmaceutical company in America to produce somatropin using this technology in the early 1980s. It used a method known as Inclusion Body Technique, which is a rather complicated process involving artificial synthesis of DNA fragments.
Somatropin is now mostly produced from genetically engineered strain of E. coli, bacteria that help with the absorption of vitamins B complex and K in the intestine. Human growth hormone genes are inserted into the plasmids – loops of DNA – taken from these bacteria. The plasmids are then introduced into the bacteria. The recombinant bacteria cells are kept in a culture medium for synthesis of somatropin to take place. The HGH gene inserted is used by the cells to generate more growth hormone at a faster and cost-efficient rate than when producing HGH from cadavers. Somatropin is generated from the cultured recombinant bacterial cells. The use of E. coli virtually eliminates the possibility of getting the growth hormone produced contaminated by cadaver tissues.
Protein secretion technology is the most advanced method used today for producing recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH). It is an improvement on the use of genetically engineered strain of E. coli which helps to guard against re-solubalization of proteins.
Popular brands of HGH of rDNA origin on the market right now include Genotropin, Saizen, Nutropin, Norditropin, Humatrope and Tev-Tropin. These are available in the U.S. only as a prescription drug and are administered through injections. They are approved by the FDA strictly for individuals suffering serious growth hormone deficiency. Somatropin is not meant for those who are in interested in HGH only for cosmetic benefits, such as bodybuilding and anti-aging. Improper use of rHGH can give rise to some awful side effects, which is why it its administration is ideally supervised by a qualified medical professional.
https://hgh.us.com/understanding-rec...production.php
The 6 minute video is worth watching also.
Human growth hormone (HGH) is a very essential natural substance in the body, with a deficiency capable of giving rise to a plethora of unpleasant symptoms. Individuals suffering from HGH deficiency are typically placed on injections of somatropin, which is growth hormone of rDNA origin. This biosynthetic alternative is so called because it is produced through the use of recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology. This modern method of growth hormone production is a lot safer and gives more efficient results than earlier techniques. It is therefore easy to understand why virtually all synthetic growth hormone products on the market are produced using this technique. What does rDNA technology entails? And how is it used to produce somatropin? Read on to find out.
What is recombinant DNA technology?
Recombinant DNA is a term used to describe DNA whose creation was brought about by the combination of two or more strands. DNA holds all information needed for the re-creation of an organism. Recombinant DNA molecules, sometimes referred to as chimeric DNA, are created through laboratory techniques of genetic recombination, which are aimed at uniting genetic material from diverse sources. These molecules are made by combining segments of at least two different molecules. It is possible to have these molecules because of the similarity in the chemical structure of DNA molecules from all living organisms. Recombinant DNA technology refers to the series of procedures that are used to join DNA segments together to form recombinant DNA molecules. The molecules so formed can enter and replicate in a cell on their own or as a result of integration into chromosomes. In other words, the technology enables virtually all DNA sequences to be formed and introduced into living organisms.
The idea of recombinant DNA is credited to Peter Lobban, then a graduate student at Stanford University Medical School. However, Stanley N. Cohen and Herbert W. Boyers are listed as the inventors in a U.S. patent applied for by Stanford University in 1974 and awarded in 1980. The first licensed medication to be produced through the use of recombinant DNA technology was human insulin by the biotechnology company Genentech Inc.
How recombinant DNA is constructed
Recombinant DNA is made through a laboratory process known as molecular cloning. It requires the existence of a cloning vector, a DNA molecule capable of replicating within living cells. Vectors are typically obtained from plasmids or viruses and the choice of the one for cloning is determined base on the host organism. A piece of DNA is inserted into the vector with a marker on it for easy identification of recombinant molecules. The vector is introduced into a host organism or cell, such as Escherichia Coli, which must have been prepared to harbor the foreign DNA. This is followed by selection of organisms with recombinant DNA and, finally, by screening for clones having targeted DNA inserts and biological properties.
Applications of rDNA technology
The relevance of recombinant technology has continued to grow since its introduction. It is today being used in many areas of human life. It is employed in the production of therapeutic agents in large quantity and at a more affordable cost. The therapeutic agents produced through the use of rDNA technology include antibiotics, hormones, growth factors, blood products such as albumin and thrombolytics, blood clotting factors, and cytokines. It is expected to even become more useful in the 21st century in combating the variety of genetic diseases confronting humans. The technology has also found usefulness in the diagnosis of people with HIV infection. The three widely-used techniques for diagnosing HIV infection are based on the use of recombinant DNA technology.
It isn't just about health and medicine, though. Recombinant technology is being used in agriculture and food production, among other areas. It has been utilized to develop better insect- and herbicide-resistant crops. The procedures have also been used to produce a variety of rice known as Golden rice, which is believed to hold great promise for dealing with Vitamin A deficiency cases across the globe.
Somatropin production
Somatropin is the biosynthetic variant of the natural growth hormone somatotropin, which is produced by the anterior pituitary gland in the head. This is a protein-based hormone with a 191 amino acid sequence and weight of about 22,000 daltons. The synthetic HGH we have today is practically identical to that which is produced in the body. It has similar molecular structure and composition making it a great alternative for those who are not able to make enough somatotropin in their body. Growth hormone delivers multiple benefits, but it is especially important for children because it promotes proper growth and development. Stunted growth is one of the possible adverse effects of HGH deficiency.
Before the introduction of HGH of rDNA origin, different attempts had been made to find a way to produce growth hormone that can be used to treat people suffering from deficiency. Growth hormone derived from cattle, bovine growth hormone (rBGH), was used for treatment at a point. But it had to be abandoned because of the disparity between molecular structure of HGH and rBGH.
Scientists tried growth hormone extracted from the pituitary gland of human cadavers next. But the production process was quite laborious and expensive. The final product was also at times unsafe for treatment of growth hormone deficiency in humans due to the presence of contaminants from the tissues of cadavers used.
In rare cases, the HGH so produced resulted in the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a highly fatal, progressive degenerative brain disorder comparable to mad cow disease in cattle.
The introduction of recombinant DNA technology practically put an end to the problems associated to bovine GH and HGH from cadavers. Genentech was the first pharmaceutical company in America to produce somatropin using this technology in the early 1980s. It used a method known as Inclusion Body Technique, which is a rather complicated process involving artificial synthesis of DNA fragments.
Somatropin is now mostly produced from genetically engineered strain of E. coli, bacteria that help with the absorption of vitamins B complex and K in the intestine. Human growth hormone genes are inserted into the plasmids – loops of DNA – taken from these bacteria. The plasmids are then introduced into the bacteria. The recombinant bacteria cells are kept in a culture medium for synthesis of somatropin to take place. The HGH gene inserted is used by the cells to generate more growth hormone at a faster and cost-efficient rate than when producing HGH from cadavers. Somatropin is generated from the cultured recombinant bacterial cells. The use of E. coli virtually eliminates the possibility of getting the growth hormone produced contaminated by cadaver tissues.
Protein secretion technology is the most advanced method used today for producing recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH). It is an improvement on the use of genetically engineered strain of E. coli which helps to guard against re-solubalization of proteins.
Popular brands of HGH of rDNA origin on the market right now include Genotropin, Saizen, Nutropin, Norditropin, Humatrope and Tev-Tropin. These are available in the U.S. only as a prescription drug and are administered through injections. They are approved by the FDA strictly for individuals suffering serious growth hormone deficiency. Somatropin is not meant for those who are in interested in HGH only for cosmetic benefits, such as bodybuilding and anti-aging. Improper use of rHGH can give rise to some awful side effects, which is why it its administration is ideally supervised by a qualified medical professional.
https://hgh.us.com/understanding-rec...production.php
The 6 minute video is worth watching also.
