Question

A human protein that is obtained from transgenic animals and is used to treat emphysema is -
a. Alpha-lactalbumin
b. Thyroxin
c. $\alpha$- 1- antitrypsin
d. Insulin

Answer 1

Hint: Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease where the air sacs present in the lungs become stretched and eventually gets damaged. This results in a chronic disease including cough and difficulty breathing.

Complete answer:
> The option (c) $\alpha$- 1- antitrypsin is correct. A human protein that is obtained from transgenic animals and is widely used to treat emphysema is $\alpha$−1-antitrypsin. Transgenic animals produce a lot of useful biological products which are used to create several protein molecules. This is done by the introduction of a portion of DNA which codes for particular products such as human proteins.

> The option (a) Alpha- lactalbumin is incorrect. Alpha- lactalbumin is a protein which actively regulates the production of lactose in the milk of mammals. In primates, the expression of alpha-lactalbumin is up regulated in response to the prolactin hormone and it also increases the production of lactose in the body.

> The option (b) Thyroxin is incorrect, as the thyroxin hormone is the main hormone which is secreted into the bloodstream by the thyroid gland. It plays an essential role in digestion, heart and muscle functioning in our body. It also helps in brain development and proper maintenance of bones.

> The option (d) Insulin is an important hormone that is secreted from our body from the pancreas. However, the insulin hormone is not related with the treatment of emphysema and hence, this option is incorrect. The insulin hormone promotes glucose uptake in our body by controlling the mechanisms like glycogenesis, lipogenesis, and also helps in protein synthesis of skeletal muscle and fat tissues.

Hence, The correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
Smoking is the most common cause of this disease but the cause of emphysema can also be genetic. The protein that is used to cure emphysema is mainly obtained from the liver. Their main function is to protect the lungs from any of the inflammation that is caused by infection and from inhaled irritants present in tobacco smoke.

Note: The protein $\alpha$-1-antitrypsin, also called AAT, is made inside a normally functioning liver cell. AAT plays an important role in preventing any damage to the liver and also the lungs, by an enzyme present in white blood cells of our body. This enzyme is released from white blood cells to fight any such infections, and meanwhile the AAT stops it from attacking normal tissues of the body.