A rare disease is now understood to be caused by a single mutant gene. When the researcher learns that the gene encodes a ______, he says “Oh good! We may be able to treat the disease with recombinant protein produced in E. coli and delivered by injection.”

Question

A.  protein hormone
B.  cell-surface receptor
C.  ribozyme
D.  component of chromatin
E.  mitochondrial enzyme

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?

  Gather Content
  · What do you already know about recombinant protein therapy?

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
 

Answer 1

A.  protein hormone

Clarify Question
· What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o This question addresses recombinant protein therapy.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o This question is asking you to analyze the information given, using logic, to dissect the problem and determine the answer.

  Gather Content
  · What do you already know about recombinant protein therapy?
        o Some diseases are due to the body’s inability to produce a specific protein. We treat these diseases by providing the missing protein. Traditionally, these are isolated from animal tissues, but now we can express proteins in bacteria and other systems using recombinant DNA. An example is insulin, the first medical product produced in this way. Insulin is produced in the pancreas then transported via the bloodstream.

  Choose Answer
· Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o Recombinant protein therapy can be very powerful, but for many types of proteins delivery to the correct location is a problem.
        o Protein hormones, however, do not have this problem because they normally travel in the bloodstream. Simple injection can get them to the right place.
        o Other proteins that are embedded in the membrane or are intracellular are more difficult to deliver.

Reflect on Process
· Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o The question required you to analyze the information given, using logic, to dissect the problem and determine the answer.
        o Did you recognize that protein hormones, like insulin, are especially amenable to therapy with recombinant protein?