The cysteine switch is pretty simple - it's a part of the MMP proteins that literally folds over and puts a cysteine in contact with Zn ion in the active site of the enzyme. In at least some cases, the switch is part of the "propeptide" sequence, the part of the MMP that gets broken off to "activate" the enzyme. Cysteine has interesting functions in active sites because it includes an S-H. This group is called an especially reactive group called a thiol, and can do fun things like bind to metal ions, form disulfide bridges, and strongly interact with the substrate. Suffice to say, if the cysteine is in the right place, it can be crucial to a protein's function. In the case of the switch, the thiol forms a bond with the Zn ion, preventing it and the active site from taking part in any enzymatic reactions.

However, there is no real danger of a cysteine "deficiency" without a general protein deficiency, and putting topical sulfur on doesn't have any effect on the amino acid in general, or the MMP switch. It just.. doesn't work that way. Elemental sulfur is not the same thing as a thiol group on an amino acid. Cysteine isn't an essential amino acid. It's produced from methionine, a common essential amino acid that contains sulfur. Introducing any other sulfur compound will have no obvious influence on the production or use of cysteine, and certainly not on the cysteine switch.

 

But topically applied sulfur is a keratolytic agent. You don't think that has anything to do with this? Also, there's a big difference between not deficient and optimal. Maybe we need more.

http://www.integrative-medicine.com.au/node/110

Low Lectin Food Elimination Regime and Diet

http://www.integrati...com.au/node/110

 

I wonder. Since IgA binds up lectins, then should we also look into ways that aid IgA production? Function?

IgA are the antibodies that live and function within our mucosa, which is why they are the antibodies that must be tested for gluten intolerance. They are also our first line of defense against infectious disease. (Don't take cold and flu meds that reduce mucus)

http://www.krispin.com/lectin.html scroll to the bottom.

searching on 'boosting IgA' produces a lot of results. And it seems that probiotics, anything that produces endorphins (laughter, music, affection, sex) That sex boosts endorphins and therefore IgA seems to have sparked many articles.

http://www.yeastinfe...upplements.html lots about NK cells which it says, in addition to their assassination duties, play a regulatory role in the immune system. Also a lot about the essential glyconutrients we've been discussing here.

So, about all those glyconutrients we spent so much time researching. They are also important for the immune system and cell repair and are anti-aging.

Glyconutrients boost T-Cell and Natural Killer cell production and activity. NK cells destroy all the bad invaders - fungi, bacteria, virii, etc. And cancer cells. And they signal other cells that make up the body's immune response to tell them to get to work.

Glyconutrients also boost production of the Stem Cells that can repair any damaged tissue. http://www.natural-h...onutrients.html And may also increase the extremely important antioxidants glutathionine and SOD superoxide dismutase . Which along with Zinc creates ZSOD (which you may have heard of in Databased's threads/theory about it's deficiency being the root cause of acne and the treatment is an extremely natural circadian/melatonin cycle of bright outdoor light all day and darkness at night.)

There are 8 essential glyconutrients. Many are easy to get if you eat lots of veggies, but a few are not so easy to get. Go back to around pages 4-6 or so for more info, links to sources and what these nurients do lectin-wise. Here's another article about a glyconutrient rich diet: http://www.glyconutr...onutrients.html

8 saccharides which play a critical role in cell to cell communication. They are not digested for energy and do not convert to glucose but go to the cells to connect with glycoproteins.

this information is overwhelming and seems to be inconclusive. I can tell you that when I eat any soy products (soybean oil, soy protein isolate, soy crisps etc....) i break out, so I know that something in soy is bad. phytoestrogens? lectins? what... anyone have information about the correlation between lectins and flax?

this information is overwhelming and seems to be inconclusive. I can tell you that when I eat any soy products (soybean oil, soy protein isolate, soy crisps etc....) i break out, so I know that something in soy is bad. phytoestrogens? lectins? what... anyone have information about the correlation between lectins and flax?

 

If you break out soon after consuming any amount of soy, you probably have an allergy. If you start to break out when you have a lot of soy as part of your diet, then it could be the lectins and/or the phytoestrogens. If you also break out from flax, another estrogenic food, I'd say you want to avoid/limit estrogenic foods.

And yes, we only have Dr Loren Cordain's word that the lectins impair normal exfoliation and lead to clogged pores. There is plenty of other evidence that the lectins damage the digestive tract. And soy is estrogenic. And it's very common to be allergic to soy. So there are many ways it can affect acne.

urine actually contains zag according to these studies:

http://www.nature.com/jid/journal/v119/n2/full/5601575a.html

"The normal functions of ZAG are unclear; however, ZAG has been isolated from the urine of human cancer patients with cachexia and can function as a lipid-mobilizing factor. ZAG purified from human or mouse serum or human cancer patient urine induces lipolysis resulting in glycerol release and also increases lipid utilization in both human and mouse adipocytes"

http://www.jci.org/articles/view/108371

"One of the major proteins, identified Zn-alpha2-glycoprotein (Zn-alpha2), was isolated from the urine and partly characterized."

though its not clear what zag actually does and all of the research is aimed towards cancer, zag is definetly present in not only semen but urine. Check out these astounding reviews on urine therapy. Sounds totally desperate and also disgusting but urine therapy is when you either topically apply urine to the face or internally ingest urine daily. It really does work for alot of people.

http://www.acne.org/urine-therapy-reviews/524/page1.html

there's 256 reviews!!

Also if you have time:

and

what do you think?

^Is that about topical use or oral? I haven't watched the videos as my sound card doesn't work. I have a long list of videos I've been meaning to watch on my iphone or something.

But just remember that urine is also full of things your body just worked so hard to eliminate.

ZAG, Capthepsin D and the enzyme named here are involved in desquammation.

http://www.acne.org/messageboard/index.php/topic/298075-recent-advances-in-acne-pathogenesis-information/page__st__20#entry3257144 And apparently PH affects the function of those enzymes. And water so perhaps also a factor in people with dry skin and acne.

Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by hyperproliferation and by aberrant differentiation. We found cathepsin D and zinc-₂-glycoprotein, two catalytic enzymes associated with apoptosis and desquamation, to be present in the stratum corneum of the normal epidermis but absent from the psoriatic plaque. Psoriasis is characterized by an altered response to interferon- (IFN-), including the induction of apoptosis in normal but not in psoriatic keratinocytes, often with opposite effects on gene expression of suprabasal proteins. We found that IFN- binding and signaling were attenuated in psoriasis: The IFN- receptor, the signal transducer and activator of transcription STAT-1, and the interferon regulatory factor IRF-1 were strongly up-regulated by IFN- in normal keratinocytes, but not in psoriatic ones. IFN- strongly up-regulated the expression of the catalytic enzymes cathepsin D and zinc-₂-glycoprotein in normal keratinocytes but down-regulated them in psoriatic ones; the reverse was true of the apoptotic suppressor bcl-2. We believe that the aberrant response to IFN- plays a central role in the pathophysiology of psoriasis, particularly the disruption of apoptosis and desquamation.Chen, S.-H., Arany, I., Apisarnthanarax, N., Rajaraman, S., Tyring, S. K., Horikoshi, T., Brysk, H., Brysk, M. M. Response of keratinocytes from normal and psoriatic epidermis to interferon- differs in the expression of zinc-₂-glycoprotein and cathepsin D.

http://www.fasebj.or...t/14/3/565.full

 

 

So cathepsin D is also something to look into. And just looking at the wikipedia article and skimming through the references cited, there's a lot of mention of estrogens and that estrogen regulates cathepsin D levels. Which could be how estrogen is a factor. Most research into cell proliferation and apoptosis is going to be about cancer and breast cancer is one of the more common research topics.

 

A whole lot of studies on the badness of the WGA lectin http://www.greenmedinfo.com/page/opening-pandoras-bread-box-critical-role-wheat-lectin-human-disease#_ftn12 . Such as:

Antinutritive effects of wheat-germ agglutinin and other N-acetylglucosamine-specific lectins.

i think there are better ways of approaching this, even if it does work, who really wants pee or semen on them? i could think of maybe one time that would it be necessary, and thats after being stung by a jelly fish.

i think there are better ways of approaching this, even if it does work, who really wants pee or semen on them? i could think of maybe one time that would it be necessary, and thats after being stung by a jelly fish.

 

????? I've no idea why you've even made such a silly comment comment. Of course there are better approaches. Such as the many, many pages of discussion about proper preparation to reduce lectins and traditional food combinations involving nutrients that bind up lectins. While there has been a post or two mentioning urine and semen, that is not what this thread is about and there is 12 pages filled with other information.

i think there are better ways of approaching this, even if it does work, who really wants pee or semen on them? i could think of maybe one time that would it be necessary, and thats after being stung by a jelly fish.

 

????? I've no idea why you've even made such a silly comment comment. Of course there are better approaches. Such as the many, many pages of discussion about proper preparation to reduce lectins and traditional food combinations involving nutrients that bind up lectins. While there has been a post or two mentioning urine and semen, that is not what this thread is about and there is 12 pages filled with other information.

 

i was distracted by it, sorry...i agree with the rest though, food is one way to approach clogged pores...there are several more

Hah! I just noticed something. In the first post I had stated that the ZAG enzyme was found in bodily fluids including sweat. Perhaps this is a factor in why working up a sweat helps many people. I don't sweat much, which can be a symptom of hypo-thyroidism or low functioning thyroid, and perhaps the reduced sweating and therefore the reduced ZAG enzyme on the surface of the skin is a factor in why people with hypothyroidism often get acne. ???

From the 2009 report titled Recent Advances in Acne Pathogenesis Information

http://piel-l.org/bl...al-alliance.pdf

Sebum contains several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which play important roles in the inflammatory process of acne. The levels of MMPs are significantly reduced in the acne lesions following treatment.

See, I wondered what enzymes might be in normal sebum but my quick searches didn't produce any results.

Metalloproteinases (or metalloproteases) constitute a family of enzymes from the group of proteases, classified by the nature of the most prominent functional groupin their active site. These are proteolytic enzymes whose catalytic mechanism involves a metal. Most metalloproteases are zinc-dependent, but some usecobalt. - wikipedia def

So, they might just be talking about the ZAG, at least with the zind-dependent ones. But did Cordain ever tell us that ZAG was found in your sebum?

This is a better wikipedia article on the metalloproteinase matrix. Doesn't specifically mention the ZAG enzyme. A little bit about cell differentiation. And a bit about a 'cysteine switch.' Cysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid and we hopefully all know by now how beneficial sulfur is, in the diet and topically.

Also talks of inhibitors, especially synthetic ones i.e. drugs. Names doxycycline. Isn't this prescribed for acne? And it inhibits the enzymes that allow normal exfoliation? And even more important things affected by proper cell proliferation and death?

There's a study cited in that wikipedia article about the cysteine switch but I'm afraid I get nothing from the abstract. At least not without a lot of thought into what it might mean.

 

Wow, this might be it for me! I was on doxycycline hyclate 100mg 2x a day for 4 months, and now i have tons of dead skin all over my face everyday (also on shoulders/back). I wonder how i can reintroduce these enzymes which would allow for normal exfolition hmm...

From the 2009 report titled Recent Advances in Acne Pathogenesis Information

http://piel-l.org/bl...al-alliance.pdf

Sebum contains several matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which play important roles in the inflammatory process of acne. The levels of MMPs are significantly reduced in the acne lesions following treatment.

See, I wondered what enzymes might be in normal sebum but my quick searches didn't produce any results.

Metalloproteinases (or metalloproteases) constitute a family of enzymes from the group of proteases, classified by the nature of the most prominent functional groupin their active site. These are proteolytic enzymes whose catalytic mechanism involves a metal. Most metalloproteases are zinc-dependent, but some usecobalt. - Collectively, they are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but also can process a number of bioactive molecules. They are known to be involved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release of apoptotic ligands (such as the FAS ligand), andchemokine/cytokine in/activation.^[3] MMPs are also thought to play a major role on cell behaviors such as cell proliferation, migration(adhesion/dispersion), differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and host defense.

So, they might just be talking about the ZAG, at least with the zinc-dependent ones. But did Cordain ever tell us that ZAG was found in your sebum?

This is a better wikipedia article on the metalloproteinase matrix. Doesn't specifically mention the ZAG enzyme. A little bit about cell differentiation. And a bit about a 'cysteine switch.' Cysteine is a sulfur containing amino acid and we hopefully all know by now how beneficial sulfur is, in the diet and topically.

Also talks of inhibitors, especially synthetic ones i.e. drugs. Names doxycycline. Isn't this prescribed for acne? And it inhibits the enzymes that allow normal exfoliation? And even more important things affected by proper cell proliferation and death?

There's a study cited in that wikipedia article about the cysteine switch but I'm afraid I get nothing from the abstract. At least not without a lot of thought into what it might mean.

 

Wow, this might be it for me! I was on doxycycline hyclate 100mg 2x a day for 4 months, and now i have tons of dead skin all over my face everyday (also on shoulders/back). I wonder how i can reintroduce these enzymes which would allow for normal exfolition hmm...

Your body produces the enzymes. Just stop inhibiting them. Also your skin needs to be acidic for them to function, so stop stripping your acid mantle away with soap. See also the linoleic acid thread. It's an important part of the acid mantle and mammals with skin problems of all sorts have been found to be deficient.

i think there are better ways of approaching this, even if it does work, who really wants pee or semen on them? i could think of maybe one time that would it be necessary, and thats after being stung by a jelly fish.

 

this approach makes a ton of sense though

Screw soaking and then toasting nuts. I just eat em raw' outta the pack.

I recently found the joys of eating beans too! Sure, soaking your own would be easier and delicious but I usually just make a quick curry or salad and it's delicious! They are soaked in salt only (I tried to find salt free, failed, you can find sugar free in abundance though).

 

FYI: Salt displaces some of the magnesium in the skins. This is what makes the skin more tender and why people do it. But I don't want my magnesium displaced.

alternativista, I have been recently diagnosed with graves disease and have often wondered what and how it contributes to my skin issues. Im very confused and overwhelmed at all the info you posted about the ZAG enzyme and its relationship to cell differentation.. Clogged pores plague me something awful. Its not just a normal clogged pore or two but they are embedded in my chin by the hundreds. I thought I had seb derm issues but have tried anti fungals and changing my diet drastically but my skin cell turnover will not regulate. I am on Armour thyroid medicine and take good supplement and dont know what else to try. What are your thoughts?

alternativista, I have been recently diagnosed with graves disease and have often wondered what and how it contributes to my skin issues. Im very confused and overwhelmed at all the info you posted about the ZAG enzyme and its relationship to cell differentation.. Clogged pores plague me something awful. Its not just a normal clogged pore or two but they are embedded in my chin by the hundreds. I thought I had seb derm issues but have tried anti fungals and changing my diet drastically but my skin cell turnover will not regulate. I am on Armour thyroid medicine and take good supplement and dont know what else to try. What are your thoughts?

Doesn't graves cause an over active thyroid? In which case, why would you take thyroid hormones? Has anything changed since you started taking it?

I think what you should take away from this thread is to soak and cook your beans properly and ideally soak, sprout or ferment what grains you consume. And avoid or limit the most harmful. And eat your glyconutrients. There is that bit about colostrum obtaining zag and so it might be beneficial topically. There's another enzyme involved in dissolving the cell matrix and Its regulated by estrogens. and zag production is regulated by glucocorticoids which is what spironolactone is which may be a big factor in how its helpful in acne.

Did you try topical linoleic acid? It plays a vital role in the production of these enzymes and pretty much every thing else to do normal skin function. And your thyroid affects the lipid composition of your sebum.

This post on the benefits of nettles and nettle tea claim the lectins in nettles act like antibodies. Something to look into. Beneficial lectins. Sure there's a lot of research into lectins to treat cancer, but that doesn't mean they are good for you. Cancer treatments tend to be bad or you.

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/nettle-tea-health-benefits.html

I have 'good' amount of lentil(lentil soup or dal) every day - almost always thrice a day(with breakfast, lunch & dinner).

i do it because i love them, they are so filling & also for the nutritional value - mainly the protein content!

my mum never soaks them.

but we first boil them and them add in spices, lil' oil and sometimes even veggies like carrots.

(i'll ask her to add onions &/or garlic everyday if she can)

is it okay if i have that much lentil soup through a day?

i ask this 'health wise' not just skin.

p.s i always have lentil soup with some white rice(which is my lunch & dinner staple along with good amount of veggies, fish/egg curry etc.)

i try to balance out my white rice(not much) with good about of protein, fibre, and as much as fat as i get from fish/egg/some oil used in cooking etc.

I have 'good' amount of lentil(lentil soup or dal) every day - almost always thrice a day(with breakfast, lunch & dinner).

i do it because i love them, they are so filling & also for the nutritional value - mainly the protein content!

my mum never soaks them.

but we first boil them and them add in spices, lil' oil and sometimes even veggies like carrots.

(i'll ask her to add onions &/or garlic everyday if she can)

is it okay if i have that much lentil soup through a day?

i ask this 'health wise' not just skin.

p.s i always have lentil soup with some white rice(which is my lunch & dinner staple along with good amount of veggies, fish/egg curry etc.)

i try to balance out my white rice(not much) with good about of protein, fibre, and as much as fat as i get from fish/egg/some oil used in cooking etc.

I believe if you look back through the thread where there are the charts on the various lectins in various seeds, you'll find that substances that bind up the lectins in lentils are abundant in a variety of foods that are probably abundant in your diet. But I can't swear to that. I haven't memorized it all. But a rule of thumb is that the hardest lectins to destroy or bind up are those in the gluten grains and soy. And maybe peanuts, again, I don't remember on that.