The fibrillar nature of wool keratin is well established but considerable doubt still exists concerning the mode of aggregation of the constituent protein molecules . Early workers (7, 10, 12, 22) showed that it is possible to examine the contents of cortical cells of suitably treated wool samples with the electron microscope, and that (macro)fibrils, which can be discerned in the optical micro...

The stratified squamous epithelium is a model system in which to define molecular mechanisms underlying the switch from proliferation to differentiation. This can be achieved through the functional dissection of keratin gene promoters. Having previously established the importance of keratin 4 in maintaining the differentiated phenotype in corneal epithelial cells, we investigated the role of Sp...

The polypeptide composition of epidermal keratin varies in disease. To better understand the biological meaning of these variations, we have analyzed keratins from a number of human epidermal diseases by the immunoblot technique using AE1 and AE3 monoclonal antikeratin antibodies. The results reveal a continuous spectrum of keratin expression ranging from one closely resembling the normal in vi...

The use of bioactive materials has become a standard tool in the arsenal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Bioactive have gained significant attention due to their ability mimic tissues physically, chemically mechanically. Although plethora both natural synthetic polymers been identified, wool-based keratin, which propensity self-assemble, is biocompatible, cytocompatib...

Protein drugs like growth factors are promising therapeutics for damaged-tissue repair. Their local delivery often requires biomaterial carriers for achieving the therapeutic dose range while extending efficacy. In this study, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and keratin were crosslinked and used as sponge-like scaffolds (KTN-PEG) to absorb test proteins with different isoelectric points (pI): albumin...

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The outer epidermal layer of the skin is an epithelium with remarkable protective barrier functions, which is subject to pronounced physical stress in its day-to-day function. A major candidate component for absorbing this stress is the K5/K14 keratin intermediate filament network. To investigate the part played by keratins in stress resilience, keratinocyte cell lines were subjected to mechani...

Sir, Palmoplantar keratodermas (PPKs) constitute a heterogeneous group of skin disorders with the distinctive trait of hyperkeratosis of palmoplantar skin. The disorders are classified clinically by the morphology and distribution of the hyperkeratosis, the presence of associated cutaneous and non-cutaneous features and by the mode of transmission (1, 2). Familial diffuse epidermolytic PPK (EPP...

Nodules of tumor cells have been isolated from 7, 12-dimethylbenz (alpha)anthracene-induced rat mammary tumors. These nodules consist of at least two cell populations which can be subfractionated by selective attachment in calcium-free medium. One cell population which attaches in the absence of calcium (basal cells) stains intensively with antibodies against type IV collagen and also with anti...

We formulate a mathematical model to study the in vivo keratin organization in terms of repartition of the keratin material between three different structural states: soluble proteins, filament precursors and filamentous state. The model describes a cycle of assembly and disassembly of keratin material. A generic nucleation function and structural stability of filament precursors are assumed. I...