Generation of transgenic cucumbers with expression of a ten-tandem repeat long-acting GLP-1 analogue and their biological function on diabetic rats

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a 30-amino acid peptide hormone, which has the regulatory function of stimulating the secretion of insulin to balance blood glucose levels. In this study, marker-free expression vector pX6 with a fusion gene of ten tandem repeated GLP-1 analog ([Ser8, Gln26 and Asp34]-GLP-1) genes was constructed and transformed into cucumbers by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation method. Four transgenic lines were obtained by PCR and Southern blotting analysis and two transgenic lines successfully expressed the fusion protein (named GLP-T), which was revealed by Western blotting analysis. The biological activity test results showed that the serum glucose level of diabetic rats was significantly decreased after oral administration of the fusion protein GLP-T extracted from the transgenic cucumber fruitage. These results suggest that this may provide a brand-new strategy to prevent and cure the diabetes with no pain.