Originally posted by nick:
These HCA, from the "New Substances in Prepared Food", I take it that all HCA are bad?
No, it totally depends on their molecular structure whether they contain toxic properties, or the property to 'just' influence receptors in the brain or other organs.
These HCA are those Malliard Reactant products, from the sugars and proteins. I take it HCA has do with the chemical make-up/arrangement of these damaged proteins.
Yes; the name HCA is specific for a group of protein-sugar maillard products, named after their molecular structure.
Do you mean it starts at the outside, then progresses to the inside then into the nucleus. Like a step by step process?
Yes, this MAY happen, but chances are slim, since these attackers have no will; they just randomly attack whatever may come in their path.
So, that is why you can imagine that endogenous normal radicals are very unlikely to cause cancer, though it is possible in theory.
Even when they last long enough, and even when they end up in the nucleus, chances are furthermore very slim that specifically that part of the DNA/RNA is damaged that holds the information to balance growth hormones /factors and their inhibitors.
However, when you mean king, do you mean the nucleus of a cell?
Hmm, good question. Maybe much more specifically: that part of the DNA/RNA where the information about balancing growth stimulators and inhibitors is located, since only damage to that part may cause cancer (if 'not only injured, but fatally injured'). Damage to 'other royals' (other parts of the DNA/RNA) will only affect functioning of those cells (the cell plus its 'offspring').
Does the palace mean that one individual cell, or do you mean the entire body?
Maybe every cell represents a kingdom, with the nucleus being the palace, and the DNA/RNA the rooms where the royals sleep.
That part of the DNA/RNA where the information about balancing growth stimulators/inhibitors is located, is the king.
This analogy seems to have a double description of how an individual cell would respond, and how all the cells in the body would respond as well. Does that make sense?
I'm sorry, but I don't understand. Could you be more specific?
These toxins could be HCA and beta-carbolines, correct?
Yes, they could (beta-carbolines are a specific group of HCA).
I was reading that when a radical or toxin gets to the nucleus it damages certain genes, such as the oncogene, and when this damage isn't repaired, it leads to abnormal cell reproduction(mitosis). Thus leading to tumors=uncontrolled cell division.
If a toxin reaches the nucleus (palace), it doesn't necessarily kill one of the royals.
And even if that does happen, this doesn't have to be disastrous, unless its the king.
If another member of the royal family gets killed, that cell may stop functioning properly (the kingdom may fall apart), without leading to cancer (the kingdom becoming an evil, agressive empire).
With cancer, normal functioning cells cannot compete because reproduction of the disfunctioning cells is accelerated, due to a lack of growth inhibitors (because that part of the DNA/RNA has been damaged).
If the damage is not repaired, those cells will continue to reproduce at a faster pace, and they will therefore overpower normal functioning cells.
A tumor is not the same as uncontrolled cell division. A tumor is a group of cells that don't function normally; they seem useless / out of place. If the reproduction rate is not accelerated, it is a benign tumor, and our own protein-decomposing enzymes may get rid of it eventually, or not. If reproduction is accelerated, it is a malign tumor.
When these malign tumors produce one or more growth factors/hormones, does this increase the hormone level throughout the body, or just in those cells/tumors?
Every cell produces growth hormones / factors, but this is balanced by growth inhibitors, so that growth is controlled. Only if sufficient growth inhibitors are produced, will reproduction be accelerated. Depending on what growth stimulator is over-active, that tumor is named after that growth stimulator.
For example: in a prolactinoma the level of prolactine is increased.
If the blood-prolactine level is increased (in the above example), the cancer is likely to be widespread already. In the first stages of cancer an increased level of prolactine may not get noticed; it starts in the cell, with some of it leaking outside, so that only a large group of such cells will increase serum prolactine level.
So cancer is uncontrolled cell division that takes control over other cells. How do these cancerous infect/takeover other cells. By attacking their DNA?
They simply grow faster, 'suffocating' other cells; taking away their nutrients / starving them. There is no 'evil design' in cancer cells other than accelerated reproduction.
