HKAP1.6 And HKAP1.7, Two Novel Human High Sulfur Keratin-Associated Proteins Are Expressed In The Hair Follicle Cortex

Researchers identified two novel human high sulfur keratin-associated proteins, hKAP1.6 and hKAP1.7, expressed in the hair follicle cortex. These proteins showed high homology with other KAP1 family members and were actively expressed in the differentiated portions of the hair cortex. The study found no orthologous relationships with sheep and rat KAP1 members and noted lower expression levels of hKAP1.6 and hKAP1.7 compared to hKAP1.1 A/B. No mutations were detected in these proteins in patients with fragile hair. The findings suggested that further research, including transgenic mouse models, could provide insights into the function of KAPs in hair follicles and their role in hereditary hair diseases.