Cu-Phen

Prelims – General Science

Mains – General Studies-III (Science and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday life. | Achievements of Indians in science & technology | Awareness in the fields of IT, Space, Computers, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and issues relating to intellectual property rights)

Why in news?

Indian scientists at CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai have recently developed specialized Nano-sized particles called Cu-Phen that mimic the function of natural enzymes in our bodies.

• Enzymes – Are nature's catalysts, essential biological molecules that speed up chemical reactions vital for life.
• Artificial enzymes – Also known as nanozymes, which mimic the natural functions of enzymes using nanomaterials.
• These nanozymes hold immense potential in fields ranging from medicine to energy.

Challenge with First-Generation Nanozymes

• Earlier nanozymes often faced significant hurdles, limiting their practical application, especially within biological systems.

• A key challenge was their lack of specificity, often stemming from poorly defined "active sites" which are the parts responsible for the catalytic activity.
• This lack of precision could lead to:
  • Uncontrolled Electron Transfer
  • Generation of Harmful Byproducts – Leakage of electrons often resulted in the production of toxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS).
  • ROS can cause oxidative stress, damaging cells and contributing to various diseases and aging.
• These limitations posed risks, particularly for therapeutic applications, necessitating the development of next-generation nanozymes with better control and safety profiles.

Working Mechanism

• Cu-Phen is meticulously self-assembled from copper ions (Cu²⁺) coordinated with ligands (a molecule that binds to another) derived from the amino acid phenylalanine.
• It interacts precisely with cytochrome c, a vital protein in the mitochondrial electron transport chain (the cell's primary energy-generating pathway).
• It binds to cytochrome c in a specific manner, similar to natural enzyme-substrate interactions.
• It facilitates the efficient transfer of electrons from cytochrome c.
• These electrons are then used to reduce oxygen directly to water (H₂O), the safe end-product seen in natural cellular respiration.

Significance & Potential Applications

• Well-Defined Active Site – Unlike its predecessors, Cu-Phen features a precisely engineered and defined active site. This structural precision is key to its enhanced function.
• Overcoming Limitations – Its specific design enables controlled electron transfer, mimicking the efficiency of natural enzymes involved in cellular energy pathways.
• Crucially, this controlled process avoids the generation of harmful ROS.
• Health & Therapeutics – Its ability to function efficiently without producing harmful ROS makes it a prime candidate for safer biomedical applications.
• Bioenergy – Precise control over electron flow is fundamental to energy conversion.
• Cu-Phen could contribute to developing more efficient biocatalysts for sustainable energy production or understanding and manipulating cellular energy pathways.
• Biotechnology & Environment – Cu-Phen can guide the development of advanced artificial enzymes for various biotechnological processes and potentially environmental remediation tasks requiring specific catalytic activity.

Reference

PIB | Cu-Phen

Sea Lions

Prelims – Current events of national and international importance| General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity.

Mains (GS III) – Conservation.

Why in News?

Recently, a toxic algae bloom on Southern California's coast sickened dozens of sea lions and caused them to become aggressive.

• Sea lions – They are large marine mammals belonging to the clad Pinnipeds.

Pinnipeds are a group of aquatic, fin-footed mammals that include seals, sea lions, and walruses.

• Scientific name – Otariinae, means “little ear” in Greek, refers to their small external ear flaps.
• Species of sea lion
  • Australian sea lion
  • Galapagos sea lion 
  • New Zealand sea lion
  • Steller sea lion
  • South American sea lion
  • Californian sea lion
• Distribution – Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea to southern South America, Falkland Islands in the southern Atlantic Ocean, and others living around Australia and New Zealand.
• Habitat—They live on both land and the sea, resting and mating on rocky islands, bays, and coastal beaches.
• Morphology – They have a blunt snout, small tail, excellent eyesight, coarse hair and small external (outside) ears with fur seals.
• Their colour ranges from golden brown to dark brown but often looks darker when wet. 

• Characteristics – They are generally social, non-aggressive animals and cool off in the ocean during warm weather.
• Diet – Feed on fish and large animals like great white sharks, hammerhead sharks, blue sharks, and killer whales.
• Major threat - Toxic algal blooms – It is commonly referred to as red tides.
• These blooms produce domoic acid, a neurological toxin that makes its way up the food chain and into the diets of marine animals.

Domoic acid (DA) is primarily produced by specific diatoms in the genus Pseudo-nitzschia.

• When sea lions consume these marine animals, the neurotoxin affects their neurological functions.

• They get the effects of Difficulty breathing, seizures, and stargazing, in which sea lions unnaturally tilt their heads backwards with closed eyes.
• They act erratically, even aggressively, resulting in attacks on swimmers and surfers.  

The Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles facing an unprecedented crisis and treating 240 animals so far in 2024.

• Conservation status
  • IUCN – Endangered.

References

1. The Times of India| Toxic Algal Blooms threat Sea Lions
2. IFAW| Sea lions

Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC)

Prelims – General Science.

Mains (GS II) - Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.

Why in News?

A team of scientists has developed new ways to better understand and treat signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC).

• It is a rare form of colon cancer (CRC) and is considered one of the deadliest subtypes of the disease.

Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that originates in the large intestine (colon) or rectum.

• It gets its name from the signet ring-like appearance (a finger ring with a flat top) of its cancer cells under a microscope.
• It most commonly develops in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly the stomach, but can also occur in the colon and other organs. It spreads quickly.
• Symptoms – Indigestion, Abdominal pain, Nausea and vomiting, Diarrhea, Bloody stools, Fatigue, Joint pain, Pallor (paleness, fast heartbeat and trouble breathing).
• Prevalence - CRCs are the 3^rd most common cancer and the 2^nd leading cause of cancer deaths in the world. Globally, this type of cancer constitutes about 1% of all cases of CRC.
• It resists conventional therapies, and is often diagnosed at advanced stages.
• Severity - It has the tendency to spread to the peritoneum.

The peritoneum is a smooth, transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the organs in the abdomen.

• Treatment - Surgery, chemotherapy, and other therapies, often used in a multidisciplinary approach.

Recent Findings of the study

• Researchers have developed miniature representations of actual human SRCC tumors cultivated in laboratory petri dishes and subsequently implanted into mice.
• It provides valuable opportunity to investigate cancer in detail and evaluate potential therapies within a controlled setting.
• The research has revealed distinct molecular traits of SRCC that clarify its resistance to conventional chemotherapy.
• The research team also explore a variety of drug combinations to identify therapeutic vulnerabilities, specific weaknesses that could be targeted with focused treatments.
• Among the most encouraging outcomes of the study was the testing of a novel three-drug combination, which not only reduced tumor size but also inhibited the cancer's progression in laboratory models.

Reference

The Indian Express | Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma (SRCC)

Typhloperipatus Williamsoni

Prelims – Current events of national importance| General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity.

Mains (GS III) – Conservation.

Why in News?

A group of scientists has announced the rediscovery of a long-forgotten species of velvet worms (phylum Onychophora), which are among the oldest living fossils on the planet, after a gap of 111 years.

• It is an ancient velvet worm species (phylum Onychophora), one of the oldest living fossils in the world.

• First discovered in - December 1911 in Siang Valley.
  • After that there have been no documented records of it from India.
• The molecular analysis of T. williamsoni revealed that South Asian onychophoras diverged from their
  • Neotropical counterparts, those found in Central and South America, as well as
  • Southern Mexico and the Caribbean approximately 237 million years ago.
• Notably, it was discovered that Asian onychophoras lack any relatives among the Australian species.
• This finding is particularly striking, as invertebrates from Southeast Asia and India typically share connections with those in Australia.
• Asian onychophora stands out as one of the rare exceptions to this relationship.

Reference

The Hindu | Typhloperipatus williamsoni

Gaurav Glide Bomb

Prelims – General Science.

Mains (GS III) – Science and Technology Developments.

Why in News?

Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has successfully conducted the release trials of the long-range glide bomb "Gaurav" from the Sukhoi aircraft.

• Gaurav is a long-range glide bomb designed for precision strikes on land targets from a safe distance, specifically beyond the reach of enemy air defenses.
• Developed by – DRDO in partnership with the Armament Research and Development Establishment (ARDE), Research Centre Imarat, and the Integrated Test Range.
• Features - Range - Capable of operating between 30 km and 150 km, with successful demonstrations nearing 100 km.
• Weight - The winged variant, Gaurav, has a mass of 1,000 kg, while the non-winged version, Gautham, weighs 550 kg.
• Navigation - It employs an Inertial Navigation System (INS) complemented by satellite guidance and digital control mechanisms.
• Importance for India’s Defence
  • This system significantly boosts the Indian Air Force's (IAF) ability to conduct stand-off strikes.
  • It minimizes the exposure of fighter aircraft to enemy air defenses, thereby enhancing operational safety.
  • Furthermore, it reinforces India's capabilities in developing indigenous smart munitions and supports precision targeting, which is crucial in contemporary warfare.

Reference

The Hindu | Glide Bomb ‘Gaurav’