TLDR New techniques helped identify rare wool proteins by reducing dominant ones.
The study focused on characterizing low-abundance wool proteins, specifically keratin associated proteins (KAPs), which were difficult to identify due to the dominance of intermediate filament proteins (IFPs) in wool fibres. The research addressed the limited sequence information available for wool KAPs compared to human hair by acquiring new sequences. By employing novel differential extraction techniques based on solubility with pH, urea, and DTT concentration, the researchers significantly reduced the concentration of IFPs. This advancement allowed for the identification of low-abundance proteins in 2-D electrophoretic maps, enhancing the understanding of the wool proteome.
100 citations
,
December 2002 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry” Researchers mapped and categorized specific keratin-associated protein genes on human chromosome 21q22.1.
252 citations
,
January 1991 in “Electron Microscopy Reviews” 45 citations
,
January 1986
40 citations
,
November 2021 in “International Journal of Molecular Sciences” Mutant keratins cause inflammation in Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex, suggesting targeting them could help treat the disorder.
8 citations
,
January 2015 in “Genetics and molecular research” Researchers found four key proteins that affect the development of a specific hair type in Yangtze River Delta white goats.
7 citations
,
November 2022 in “Communications biology” Keratin injections can promote hair growth by affecting hair-forming cells and tissue development.
30 citations
,
June 2022 in “Animals” Key genes, including KRT39 and KRT74, influence hair length in Inner Mongolia cashmere goats.
8 citations
,
June 2001 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry” A truncated protein linked to breast cancer may change cell adhesion.
