Three-Dimensional Architecture of Macrofibrils in the Human Scalp Hair Cortex
February 2014
in “
Journal of Structural Biology
”
Studysummary This study observed that human hair macrofibrils predominantly exhibit a double-twist architecture with varying inter-macrofibril angles, advancing insights into their structural organization and mechanical implications.
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The study investigated the three-dimensional architecture of macrofibrils in the human scalp hair cortex, revealing that human hair macrofibrils have a consistent matrix fraction and typically exhibit a double-twist architecture. Unlike wool, human hair showed significant inter-macrofibril variation in the incremental angle increase between intermediate filaments (IFs), with a negative correlation between macrofibril size and IF increment. This variation was observed across different hair types, including Caucasian, Japanese, and African, indicating a common feature in human hair. The findings advanced the understanding of the nano-level and cell-level organization of human hair, highlighting the complexity and variability of macrofibril architecture compared to wool.
