The Extraction And Characterization Of Human Nail Keratin

    December 1991 in “ Journal of Dermatological Science ”
    Takashi Kitahara, Hideyuki Ogawa
    TLDR Human nails contain both skin and hair keratins, each needing different extraction methods.
    The study investigated the extraction and characterization of keratins from human nails using different concentrations of the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol. It was found that nails contained both epidermal and hair keratins. Epidermal keratins were extracted with 50 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, while hair keratins required 200 mM for extraction. This suggested that nails have unique keratin compositions, with differing structural features between epidermal and hair keratins despite their coexistence in nails. The study highlighted the distinct properties and durability of these keratins in the nail structure.
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