Posted on 10/27/2022 8:19:02 AM PDT by ConservativeMind
Scientists have discovered a mechanism by which an area of a protein shape-shifts to convert vitamin A into a form usable by the eye's light-sensing photoreceptor cells. A previously uncharacterized area of the protein known as RPE65 spontaneously turns spiral-shaped when it encounters intracellular membranes, or thin structures that surround different parts of a cell.
This shapeshifting enables RPE65 to enter the endoplasmic reticulum—a network of sac-like structures and tubes—where RPE65 performs the crucial task of vitamin A conversion.
Vision occurs when light hits photoreceptor pigments called opsins, triggering a series of chemical reactions that generate signals to the brain. The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), a support tissue next to the photoreceptors, recharges opsins to restore their sensitivity to light. In a process known as the visual cycle, RPE65 is essential to convert the spent vitamin A derivative all-trans retinol, back into photosensitive 11-cis retinal. Mutations in the RPE65 gene are associated with early-onset severe blinding disorders.
Interaction of RPE65 with the RPE cell's endoplasmic reticulum is essential to making 11-cis retinal, but the mechanism by which RPE65 binds to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane was until now a mystery.
The NEI team discovered that in aqueous solution, a specific region of RPE65 lacks structure, but when it encounters membranes, it spontaneously forms an amphipathic alpha-helix—a special sort of spiral shape in proteins. This change enables RPE65 it to bind to the RPE cells' endoplasmic reticulum membrane where 11-cis retinal is produced from all-trans retinol.
More than that, when a single specific amino acid within the previously uncharacterized region of RPE65 was modified by a specific lipid, it greatly expedited the formation of the alpha-helix, "locking" it into place, and facilitating its insertion into the cell membrane. This was something never seen before in a protein, according to Uppal.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Other amino acids we stop properly making include glycine and taurine. Together, supplementing these three amino acids has been found to allow our bodies to again make glutathione and superoxide dismutase (SOD), the two key antioxidants we have plenty of, as children.
These studies were previously posted here on Free Republic under “GlyNAC” and “Taurine” in the titles and keywords.
The form of Vitamin A in the essential step is a heavily converted form our bodies make from Vitamin A.
So carrots are good for eyesight after all. Bugs Bunny was right.
Please add me to the health ping list if possible......thx.
If that is so, why are there so many dead bunnies on the road?
And yet we are supposed to believe all these mechanisms are just an accident of evolution, without a Creator to guide the processes from the very beginning..........................
symbiotic shapeshifters
I recently started taking two grams each of glycine and nac —three times a day.
This combination has significantly increased my feeling of health and well being
I’ve not read of any upper limits for the safe intake of glycine much below 10 grams daily
However, the literature generally limits the safe intake of NAC to only 2 grams daily. However, the only study on unsafe NAC limits I’ve seen were at about 10 grams daily and that was outlier.
Have you read about any safe upper limits to NAC daily intake.
Appreciate the data streams.
your comment is the first I’ve read of superoxide dismutase (SOD).
do taurine and cysteine individually increase SOD or do they work together like gly/nac work together to increase glutathione
Can you post more on that.
I did not know that our cysteine and taurine levels decline with age.
How much cystein and taurine do you recommend as a daily supplements.
Glutathione levels drop with age. But also auto immune and chronic diseases as well as high bmi push glutathione levels lower.
Have you seen that these diseases also lower cystein and taurine levels—and therefor SOD— beyond what aging does?
I've been taking 3,000 mg of Taurine a day for many years now. I believe it's improved my vision.
Too much glycine, by itself, can make people pretty drowsy. Too much NAC, by itself, without a direct, known, bodily need hasn't been generally tested in people for much beyond a handful of weeks, in my readings. So acute ingestion of glycine and chronically high amounts of NAC appear to have concerns not well fleshed out, in my thinking.
Do note, however, the two GlyNAC studies were done on 70-80 year old people, and their ingestion rates were at or above 7,000 mg (7 grams) for each of glycine and NAC, but seemingly done periodically through the day, as they most noted the glutathione results causing so much good, with secondary results from excess glycine and cysteine. How do you get the most glutathione into your body's cells each day? Take a lot of smaller doses of GlyNAC, spaced a few hours apart.
“If that is so, why are there so many dead bunnies on the road?”
LOL?
The bunnies were hit by pickup trucks. Crows give warnings for caws but can’t say pickup truck.
You’ve read my study posts on these. Taurine is the missing step for SOD creation and glycine and NAC make glutathione, for older people.
Adding back these amino acids lets the body again produce the glutathione and SOD our bodies lack as we age, creating ongoing inflammation that creates all sorts of formal “old age” health problems. The processes are still there, but show they are starved of key ingredients we once provided in abundance.
GlyNAC alone reverses a bunch of negative blood, brain, and even physical function indicators. When 80 year olds, in their standard walking gait, go from much slower walkers than 30 year olds to faster than the 30 year old walkers, something pretty amazing has happened.
I know I’ve stated these points in prior threads I’ve pinged you on.
How much taurine do you take. One of the guys above said he took 3 grams daily. (he thinks it improves his eyesight as per the article)
I’m currently taking 500mg daily.
What do you recommend? What daily upper limits have you seen.
We take the amount mentioned in the study, and sometimes a bit more.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4080060/posts
Those are the New England crows?
I’ve been taking taurine at 1-2 grams a day. i’m moving that up to 3 grams daily at intervals
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