How is insulin farmed?

Insulin is not "farmed" in the traditional sense. Instead, it is manufactured using advanced biotechnology techniques. Modern insulin production primarily relies on recombinant DNA technology using microorganisms.

Recombinant Insulin Production

Here's how recombinant human insulin is produced:

• Microorganisms Used: The primary microorganisms utilized are:

  • E. coli
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast)

• Process Overview: These microorganisms are genetically engineered to produce human insulin.

  • For E. coli, the process typically involves:
    1. Insulin Precursor (IP) Production: Insulin precursors are produced inside E. coli cells in structures called inclusion bodies.
    2. Solubilization: The inclusion bodies are isolated and dissolved (solubilized).
    3. Refolding: The solubilized insulin precursors are then refolded into the correct three-dimensional structure to create fully functional insulin polypeptides (reference: Production of Recombinant Human Insulin: Current Strategies and Future Perspectives, 2014).

Example: E. coli Expression System

Step	Description
1. Production	E. coli produces insulin precursors as inclusion bodies.
2. Solubilization	Isolation and solubilization of inclusion bodies to release the insulin precursor.
3. Refolding	Insulin precursors are refolded into functional insulin molecules.

This process allows for the mass production of human insulin, which is essential for treating diabetes.