I'm sorry I don't have time to discuss this, but I thought this was an interesting quick read. I've highlighted in blue those things that many of us have as symptoms of Morgellons. Just wondered if there may be some possible connection. (I put this in this thread thinking there may be some similarities, at least regarding protein. If it should be moved to it's own thread, it's fine, JJ. Thanks.)
(Also, I found some tan seed-looking things in my deepest lesion. They were droplet shaped and had one little fiber coming out of the top of many of them. Some were just round and flat specs. Some were apart and had become lengthy instead of droplet shaped. I pressed one of the droplet-shaped ones, and it was very hard. Has anyone else experienced anything like this?)
Gossypol
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gossypol
IUPAC name[hide]2,2′-bis-(Formyl-1,6,7-trihydroxy-5-isopropyl-3-methylnaphthalene)
Identifiers
Properties
Molecular formula C30H30O8
Molar mass 518.563 g/mol
Appearance Brown solid
Melting point 177 - 182 °C (dec)
Gossypol C30H30O8 is a polyphenol derived from the cotton plant (genus Gossypium, family Malvaceae). Gossypol is a polyphenolic aldehyde that
permeates cells and acts as an inhibitor for several dehydrogenase enzymes.
It is a yellow pigment.
Gossypol is a natural toxin present in the cotton plant that protects it from insect damage.
Among other things, it has been tested as a male oral contraceptive in China. In addition to its contraceptive properties, gossypol has also long been known to possess antimalarial properties. Other researchers are investigating the anticancer properties of gossypol.
Biological properties
It has proapoptotic properties, probably due to the regulation of the Bax and Bcl2. It also reversibly inhibits Calcineurin and binds to calmodulin. It inhibits replication of the HIV-1 virus. It is an effective protein kinase C inhibitor.[1]
It has also been said to cause low potassium levels and thus causes temporary paralysis. [2]\
[edit] Biosynthesis
Gossypol is a terpeniod aldehyde, which is formed metabolically through acetate via the isoprenoid pathway.[3] Sesquiterpene dimer undergoes a radical coupling reaction in order to form gossypol.[4] Geranyl Pyrophosphate (GPP) and IPP make sesquiterpene precursor, farnesyl diphosphate(FPP),for gossypol. The biosynthesis of gossypol is summarized in figure below. The biosynthesis begins with 0, coumpond derieved from GPP and IPP. 1 (Cadinyl cation) is oxidized to 2 by (+)--cadinene synthase. (+)--cadinene (2) is involved in making the basic aromatic sesquiterpene unit homigossypol by oxidation which generates an 3 (8-hydroxy--cadinene) with the help of (+)--cadinene 8-hyroxylase.5 3 goes through various oxidative processes to make 4 (deoxyhemigossypol) which is oxidized by one-electron into hemigossypol (5,6,7) and then undergoes a phenolic oxidative coupling ortho to the phenol groups to form 8 (gossypol).[5] The coupling is catalyzed by an H2O 2 dependent peroxidise enzyme which results in our final product.[6]
Studies have discovered an abnormally high rate of hypokalemia among subjects. Hypokalemia — low blood potassium levels — causes symptoms of fatigue, muscle weakness, and at its most extreme, paralysis. In addition, about 7% of subjects reported effects on their digestive system, and about 12% increased fatigue. Most subjects recovered after stopping treatment and taking potassium supplements. A later study showed that taking potassium supplements during gossypol treatment did not prevent hypokalemia in primates.
[edit] Toxicity and potential food source
Food and animal agricultural industries must manage cotton-derivative product levels to avoid toxicity. For example, only ruminant microflora can digest gossypol, but only to a certain level, and cottonseed oil must be refined.A researcher team at Texas A&M University, led by Keerti Rathore, has genetically engineered cotton plants that contain very little gossypol in the seed, but still contain the compound in the stems and leaves. This provides protection against pests and diseases, while allowing the
seed to be used for oil and meal for human consumption. The plants are modified by RNA interference, shutting down the genes for gossypol production in the seed while leaving them unaffected in the rest of the plant.
The resulting gossypol-free cottonseed is then suitable as a high-quality protein source suitable for consumption not only by cattle, but also by humans, pigs, chickens, or turkeys, making the plant additionally valuable as a food crop.
Protein makes up 23% of the cottonseed. [8][9]
[edit] References
^ About Gossypol at Bioscreening.net
^ [1]
^ Burgos, M.; Ito, S.; Segal, J. S.; Tran, T. P. Effect of Gossypol on Ultrastructure of Spisula Sperm. Biol. Bull.1997, 193, 228-229.
^ Heinstein, P. F. ; Herman, L. D.; Tove, B. S.; Smith, H. F. Biosynthesis of Gossypol. J. Biol. Chem. 1970, 245, 4658-4665.
^ Dewick, P. M. Medicinal Natural Product: A Biosynthetic approach. Third ed.; 2008
^ Dewick, P. M. Medicinal Natural Product: A Biosynthetic approach. Third ed.; 2008
^ Coutinho, F. M. (April 2002). "Gossypol: a contraceptive for men". Contraception 65 (4): 259–263. doi:10.1016/S0010-7824(02)00294-9. PMID 12020773.
^ Cottonseed Protein: From Farmers to Your Family Table - Medgadget -
www.medgadget.com ^ Edible Cotton,Time Magazine, September 14, 2009, p.54
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gossypol"
Categories: Plant toxins | Benzenediols | Aldehydes | Naphthalenes
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