R-DNA technology

In order to characterize and confirm the analytic structure in the case of r-DNA technology-derived proteins or peptides, amino acid sequencing is the method of choice. Both the overall amino acid composition as well as N- and or C-terminal amino acid sequencing are useful and well-established tools in protein chemistry. Amino-terminal analysis reveals information about the primary structure, homogeneity and occurrence of cleavages in the polypeptide. The... 

Table 4.2 Who does what the framework for the areas of jurisdiction in the regulation of r-DNA technology in Japan...

Table 4.3 Number of experiments using r-DNA technology in Japan, broken down by ministry granting approval...

Table 4.4 shows that 208 industrial processes use r-DNA technology. These products include amino acids such as L-glutamate, L-lysine, l-tryptophan, L-threonine, L-phenylalanine and L-aspartate. Other products are nucleic acids, vitamins, perfume bases, pigments, hyaluronic acid, collagen and cyclodextrin. Enzymes such as heat-resistant proteases, lipase, amylases, cellulase and protease are also produced. 

Table 4.4 shows that 92 medical diagnostics, drugs and vaccines have been licensed by the MHW which use r-DNA technology. These include human insulin, interferons, hepatitis-B vaccine, tissue plasminogen activator and erythropoietin. 

As Table 4.4 shows, there have only been 18 agricultural applications of r-DNA technology which have used MAFF s guidelines. Of these, three are amino acid manufacturing processes using E. coli and one is for production of interferon from silkworms for use as a veterinary drug. 

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