Healthy skin with fish

After long days of working in ice-cold water without mittens, the fish farmers of Hardanger still have soft hands that are not chapped. Have they discovered the fountain of youth among fish fry (baby fish)?

Zonase

Scientists are interested in the salmon farmers' hands. There is probably a substance in the fish fry that gives these tough lads silky soft fingers. Bird chicks peck their way out of their egg shells using their beaks, but fish larvae use an enzyme known as zonase. This enzyme is produced by the body naturally, and zonase is like dynamite for the larvae! It helps them blast their way out of their eggs. Zonase is produced in a membrane around the yolk sac and it breaks down the protein in the eggshell without harming the fish larva.

Scientists have compared the eggshell protein with the protein found in human skin. They found a lot of similarities. Could zonase possibly be used to treat damaged skin in humans?

Skin diseases

Zonase has one amazing property: it can distinguish between healthy and dead skin cells. This is crucial for many people suffering from skin diseases. When they scrub off the outermost dead skin cells, they often also remove healthy new skin cells as well. Zonase breaks down the dead skin cells, but leaves the healthy new cells in peace.

Retains moisture

The enzyme needs water to work. In ordinary moisturisers, the water evaporates quickly when you spread the cream on your skin. Now researchers are trying to get the cream to retain moisture, so that the enzyme can continue working even after you rub it in.

Published in 'Nysgjerrigper' no. 3/08

Translated by Linda Sivesind