About Lunasin
What is Lunasin? Lunasin is a unique, 43 chain amino acid peptide found within soybeans. Research shows that the lunasin peptide works at the genetic level and exhibits cholesterol lowering properties as well as cancer preventive properties.
Lunasin was first discovered in 1996 by Dr. Alfredo Galvez as a result of his research to improve the nutritional profile of soy protein in Dr. de Lumen’s UC Berkeley lab.
Dr. Galvez realized that this impressive soy peptide, which is found in small quantities in soybean seeds and soy-based foods, blocks cell division by binding to specific chromosomal proteins called “hypoacetylated histones.” Dr. Galvez realized that this impressive soy peptide, which is found in small quantities in soybean seeds and soy-based foods, blocks cell division by binding to specific chromosomal proteins. Because there is consistent epidemiological data regarding soy and cancer prevention, Lunasin was first investigated as a factor that might prevent cancer cells from dividing and multiplying. The mechanism of action for Lunasin and cancer prevention was included in prestigious journals, such as Nature Biotechnology and the Journal of Cancer Research. As Dr. Galvez continued to study Lunasin, it became evident that the soy peptide had another powerful mechanism of action– lowering cholesterol.
Lunasin & Cholesterol:
Lunasin works in two ways to lower serum LDL cholesterol levels. First, it reduces the acetylation of the Histone H3 tail by PCAF (blocks the specific binding position at K14), thus reducing the level of expression of the HMG-CoA reductase gene. With decreased levels of the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme, endogenous production of cholesterol is consequently reduced.
Secondly, Lunasin aids in the process of LDL receptor production. In the presence of Lunasin, the levels of SP1 (the coactivator of SREBP for this process) are two times higher than without Lunasin present. With SP1 more readily available to bind with SREBP, the LDL receptors are produced more efficiently, so more LDL cholesterol is pulled from the bloodstream, thereby reducing the circulating serum LDL levels.
Lunasin vs. Statins:
Since 70-80% of the circulating cholesterol in your body is produced within your liver, it is important to target this process in addition to consuming less saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet. Lunasin works at an earlier stage in your body’s internal cholesterol production process than prescription statins by reducing the amount of HMG-CoA reductase enzyme expressed by the HMG-CoA reductase gene. Statin drugs work by blocking the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme after it has been produced when it is on its way to carry out your body’s internal cholesterol production cycle. Statin drugs can oftentimes be too efficient and block too much of the HMG-CoA enzyme. This leads to serious side effects because a minimum level of cholesterol is required in the body for certain necessary cellular functions such as maintaining cell membrane integrity and hormone production.
Lunasin & Cancer
Soy contains a variety of phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer activity, including protease inhibitors, phytate, phytosterols, saponins, and isoflavones. Soybeans also contain bioactive proteins that exhibit anticancer activity including lectins and the most recently discovered peptide lunasin. By its involvement in allowing or denying access to genes for transcription, acetylation is pivotal in the process of turning genes on and off. Lunasin has a binding affinity for regions of nucleosomes that are not fully acetylated. The negatively charged amino acids of Lunasin have a natural attraction to positively charged amino acid in histones. During acetylation, the positive charge on histones is neutralized. When this occurs, genes involved in cell proliferation (e.g. oncogenes) are "turned on" or activated, resulting in tumors or cancer. Lunasin can bind to hypoacetylated histones (histones that still have the positive charge) in different regions of chromosomes, blocking or preventing their acetylation. This blocking action helps keep cancer related genes switched “off”.
The chromatin binding affinity of Lunasin is believed to the underlying mechanism responsible for the cancer-preventing property of Lunasin. A series of studies strongly suggests that chromatin modification is linked with tumor suppression pathways. When delivered to the proper target tissue Lunasin may play a role in preventing or "silencing" the expression of genes that lead to tumor formation, intervening primarily at the initiation and promotion-and possibly other stages of carcinogenesis.
