Therapeutic recombinant proteins are proteins that are produced by recombinant DNA technology for use as pharmaceutical drugs. These proteins are engineered to mimic natural proteins that are normally produced in the body but may be deficient or malfunctioning in certain diseases.
Recombinant DNA technology involves the insertion of a gene that codes for a particular protein into a host cell, such as bacteria or yeast. The host cell is then cultured and the protein is purified and harvested for use as a drug.
Some examples of therapeutic recombinant proteins include insulin for the treatment of diabetes, erythropoietin for the treatment of anemia, and growth hormone for the treatment of growth disorders. Other therapeutic proteins include monoclonal antibodies, which are engineered to target specific cells or molecules in the body, and cytokines, which are proteins that play a role in the immune system.
Therapeutic recombinant proteins have revolutionized the treatment of many diseases and have become an important class of drugs in modern medicine.