Life's biologic complexity: controlling zinc levels: (Introduction)

by David Turell , Thursday, November 03, 2016, 18:20 (2942 days ago) @ David Turell

Zinc is a very important trace metal in human metabolism:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/11/161103124350.htm

"Zinc is essential for wound healing, for vision, for DNA creation, for our senses of taste and smell, even for sexual health. But despite its importance, scientists have never fully understood the mechanism that moves the mineral through the body -- until now. [I might add very important for immunity also.]

" But despite its importance, scientists have never fully understood the mechanism that moves the mineral through the body -- until now.

"Researchers have, for the first time, created detailed blueprints of the molecular moving vans that ferry this important mineral everywhere it's needed through the blood. The finding gives scientists new insights into this important process -- and a deeper understanding of the critical role it plays in maintaining good health.

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"Zinc is carried through the body by a protein known as serum albumin. Scientists had expected there would be a primary binding site where serum albumin binds with zinc, and the UVA researchers proved the location of that site. But the team, led by UVA's Wladek Minor, PhD, also found several more secondary binding sites, revealing a more complex interaction than anticipated. "It's different than it was predicted before," said researcher Katarzyna B. Handing, PhD.

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"With the finding, scientists have a better grasp of how the body maintains the delicate balances necessary for good health, a state known as homeostasis. It's a complex dance made all the more complicated by the fact that serum albumin also transports many other things, such as hormones and fatty acids. "Homeostasis is extremely important, and it can be affected by the level of zinc you are taking into your body. But it can be also affected by other elements," Handing said. "If you have an elevated level of fatty acids, for example as a result of diabetes or obesity, the zinc homeostasis can be disturbed."

"This is important because the body needs zinc, but too much zinc is toxic. So the body must make it available where it is needed, but, at the same time, it must prevent excessive buildup. If something goes wrong with the zinc regulation process, that can have a ripple effect, throwing the body's delicate balances out of whack and potentially having serious effects on health."

Comment: Another fine example of feedback loop controls. Zinc can be poisonous if too much is present. There are other micro-nutrients. Selenium is also necessary and poisonous if in too large an amount. How did evolution settle all these careful limits? Natural selection would kill if not correct from the beginning. Saltation is the only answer.