Innovations in Biotechnology and Medical Sciences

Gut molecule in C. Elegans Worms slows fat burning

Prelims Only | Science Tech | Mains Paper 3: Awareness in various sc and tech fields
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From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :

Prelims level: C. Elegans Worm

Why in the News?

Researchers have discovered a mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) worms that explains why fat loss slows down during fasting.

Fasting and Fat Metabolism

  • The brain is known to regulate fat production and breakdown in humans, other mammals, and model organisms like C. elegans.
  • In 2017, researchers identified FLP-7 hormone in the brain that triggers fat burning in the gut of C. elegans.
  • However, it was unclear how the gut communicates back to the brain, as C. elegans lacks sensory nerves in their intestines.
  • The study reveals that during fasting, the gut produces a form of insulin called INS-7, which signals the brain to halt fat burning.
  • Unlike traditional insulin, which activates insulin receptors, INS-7 blocks these receptors, leading to a cascade of events that stop the production of the fat-burning hormone FLP-7.

About Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans):

Details
Overview A small, free-living nematode (roundworm) used as a model organism in biological research.
Size Approximately 1 millimeter in length.
Habitat Found in soil environments worldwide.
Reproduction Primarily self-fertilizing hermaphrodites; males make up a small percentage and can mate with hermaphrodites.
Genome First multicellular organism to have its genome fully sequenced; about 20,000 genes.
Chromosomes Six chromosomes (five autosomes, one sex chromosome).
Body Plan Approximately 1,000 cells in an adult hermaphrodite; transparent body allows for easy microscopic observation.
Lifespan Around 2 to 3 weeks under laboratory conditions.
Research Contributions Instrumental in discoveries related to apoptosis, RNA interference, gene regulation, and human diseases.

 

PYQ:

[2013] Improper handling and storage of cereal grains and oilseeds result in the production of toxins known as aflatoxins which are not generally destroyed by normal cooking process. Aflatoxins are produced by:

(a) Bacteria

(b) Protozoa

(c) Moulds

(d) Viruses

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