Why in the News?
A recent paper published in Nature by a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences explored the genetic modification of rice plants to increase Coenzyme CoQ10 production.
What are Coenzymes and CoQ?
- Enzymes are biological catalysts made of proteins that speed up chemical reactions in living organisms without being consumed in the process.
- Coenzymes are organic molecules that assist enzymes in catalyzing biochemical reactions, making cellular metabolism more efficient.
- Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant that helps stabilize cells under stress. It is crucial for cellular energy production.
- CoQ exists in 10 forms (CoQ1 to CoQ10), all present in the respiratory chain within cells.
Importance of CoQ9 and CoQ10
- CoQ9: It is found in cereal crops (wheat, rice, oats, barley, etc.), bamboo, and flowering plants like cinnamon, avocado, and pepper. It is rich in daily foods, making it an accessible nutrient.
- CoQ10: It is vital for mitochondrial energy production. Concentrated in high-energy organs like the heart. CoQ10 is crucial for health, especially in those with neurological issues or age-related deficiencies.
- Health Benefits of CoQ10:
- 2008: CoQ10 supplementation helped patients with neurological disorders, improving their health (Montini et al., Milan).
- 2012: Infants with CoQ10 deficiency benefitted from ubiquinone analogues (Shamima Ahmed, London).
- CoQ10-based supplements are now commonly prescribed by healthcare professionals.
| [UPSC 2007] Question: Which one of the following is not a digestive enzyme in the human system?
Options: (a) Trypsin (b) Gastrin* (c) Pepsin (d) Amylase |
