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Keratin-associated proteins (KRTAPs, KAPs) and keratins are the major components of hair and nails. The content of KRTAPs in hair varies considerably between species, ranging from less than 3% in human hair to 30–40% in echidna quill. Both keratin and KRTAPs are extensively cross-linked in hair through disulfide bonds via numerous cysteine ...
Keratin (/ ˈ k ɛr ə t ɪ n / [1] [2]) is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as scleroproteins. Alpha-keratin (α-keratin) is a type of keratin found in vertebrates. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, horns, claws, hooves, and the outer layer of skin among vertebrates.
Keratin is a crucial fibrous protein found in animals, constituting tough structures like hair, feathers, nails, and horns. It's classified based on tissue origin and sulfur content: soft keratins have lower sulfur, while hard keratins, found in hair and claws, contain more sulfur, creating a stronger structure. [2]
Alpha-keratin, or α-keratin, is a type of keratin found in mammalian vertebrates.This protein is the primary component in hairs, horns, claws, nails and the epidermis layer of the skin. α-keratin is a fibrous structural protein, meaning it is made up of amino acids that form a repeating secondary structure.
Nails are a distinguishing feature of the primate order. The nail is an unguis, meaning a keratin structure at the end of a digit. Other examples of ungues include the claw, hoof, and talon. The nails of primates and the hooves of running mammals evolved from the claws of earlier animals. [38]
skin, hair, fat and nails: Skeletal system: structural support and protection, production of blood cells: bones, cartilage, ligaments and tendons: Muscular system: movement of body, production of heat: skeletal muscles, smooth muscles and cardiac muscle: Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands
Keratin is a structural protein mainly found in hair, nails, hooves, horns, quills. [14] Basically keratin is formed by polypeptide chains, which coil into α-helices with sulfur cross-links or bond into β-sheets linked by hydrogen bonding. β-keratin, which is tougher than α-conformation, is more common in birds and reptiles.
Its complex structure slides as the hair swells and is covered with a single molecular layer of lipid that makes the hair repel water. [7] The diameter of human hair varies from 0.017 to 0.18 millimeters (0.00067 to 0.00709 in). [ 10 ]