The Korea Herald

지나쌤

New Zealand produces allergy-free milk

By KH디지털뉴스부공용

Published : Oct. 2, 2012 - 14:14

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Researchers in New Zealand say they have genetically engineered a cow to produce milk free of a protein that causes allergies in children.The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, used a technique known as RNA interference to block the production of the protein beta-lactoglobulin, which is produced in cows but not found in human milk.

Study co-author Dr. Stefan Wagner of AgResearch in New Zealand completely knocked out beta-lactoglobulin by using a "designer microRNA" or short ribonucleic acid molecules, to target the protein, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Wagner and the team developed a mouse model that could produce milk containing beta-lactoglobulin and exposed the mouse to the designer microRNA to knock out the protein -- resulting in a 96 percent reduction in beta-lactoglobulin.

The research team then turned its attention toward cloning a calf with the same anti-beta-lactoglobulin trait by transferring 57 cloned embryos into cows.

The team then hormonally induced the cow to lactate, and analysis of the milk showed no detectable levels of beta-lactoglobulin, the study said.

The effort targeted the 2 percent to 3 percent of infants in the developed world who are allergic to cows' milk proteins. (UPI)


<관련 한글 기사>

우유 알레르기, 이제 안녕!

뉴질랜드의 연구팀은 유전자 조작 소가 아이들에게 알레르기를 일으키는 단백질이 없는 우유를 생산해냈다고 밝혔다.

본 연구는 미국 국립과학아카데미 회보(Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences)에 게재되었다. 베타락토글로불린(beta-lactoglobulin)은 인유에서는 발견되지 않지만 소에게서는 생산되지 않는데, 이를 차단하기 위해 RNA 간섭으로 알려진 기술을 사용하였다.

연구팀은 베타락토글로불린을 함유한 우유를 생산해내는 쥐를 개발한 뒤, 쥐를 microRNA 디자이너에 노출시킨 결과 베타락토글로불린을 96% 감소시켰다고 전했다. 이를 소에 적용하자 젖에서 베타락토글로불린이 발견되지 않았다.

본 연구는 선진국의, 우유 단백질 알레르기가 있는 2~3%의 영∙유아를 대상으로 한다. (코리아헤럴드)