Deletion/DNA Contructs

[letaps]

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Hey,

What is a deletion construct and what is a DNA construct? and What are the uses for them and what purpose do they serve?

Thanks

 

[tco]

I have no idea what a deletion construct is, but a DNA construct is simply a segment of DNA that can produce RNA and protein.

Scientists can isolate a particular construct of interest, insert it into a cell of interest (through transformation (prokaryote) or transfection (eukaryote)), and make the cell produce the protein.

 

[letaps]

I have no idea what a deletion construct is, but a DNA construct is simply a segment of DNA that can produce RNA and protein.

Scientists can isolate a particular construct of interest, insert it into a cell of interest (through transformation (prokaryote) or transfection (eukaryote)), and make the cell produce the protein.

So when the scientists insert the construct into the cell and make the cell produce the protein, what are they trying to do? In other words, what is the ultimate goal of the scientist when they are making the cell produce the protein?

Thanks

 

[SuperOrchestra]

That would depend. Stricly conjecture, but if you wanted to analyze what a particular gene product does in isolation, you could insert it into a knockout mouse and observe the phenotype, but its could be used for gene therapy too etc... I'm not sure what other considerations are there besides any piece of DNA you are going to insert if you want it to produce a protein it would have to integrate into the DNA near a promoter.

 

[letaps]

That would depend. Stricly conjecture, but if you wanted to analyze what a particular gene product does in isolation, you could insert it into a knockout mouse and observe the phenotype, but its could be used for gene therapy too etc... I'm not sure what other considerations are there besides any piece of DNA you are going to insert if you want it to produce a protein it would have to integrate into the DNA near a promoter.

So if i had the construct of interest, and inserted into a cell, and that made the cell make the protein of interest, how can that relate to gene therapy?

I know that gene therapy is basically the treatment of a disease by introducing a new gene (i guess by transformation, etc), but how can making a cell produce a certain protein relate to gene therapy?

Can you give me an example of this (how constructs can eventually lead to gene therapy)?

Thanks

 

[SuperOrchestra]

Well if the cell is producing a mutated protein you could then replace it with a functioning gene for that protein. There are several ways to do this, from what I understand this is a very inefficient process (few insert in approriate dna or at all), and has been successful for literally only a few things but that is the general idea. In order for this gene to produce a protein it needs to insert itself near a promoter, not "junk" dna.