Recombinant human proinsulin expression in Pichiapastoris using PGK promoter

Background There are indications, according to WHO, that diabetes will reach 333 million people in 2025, and already is among one of the main death causes in the world. In 2030 in Latin America, diabetes mellitus will be the second cause of deaths [1]. The actions to increase the production of insulin are strategic to respond the high demands for what we have to face in the near future [2]. P. pastoris methylotrophic yeast is being very used in the last decades to express heterologous genes to biotech uses [3]. The main expression vectors to Pichia pastoris are based in the strong promoter from AOX1 gene which codifies alcohol oxidize enzyme. However there is a search for new promoters than AOX1 due to certain disadvantages as the use of methanol as inducer that is toxic and originates undesirable subproducts during its metabolism [4]. This work has the main objective in to express in high levels the human proinsulin in Pichia pastoris using PGK promoter.