TLDR A new method was developed to extract and analyze proteins from very short human hairs.
The study developed an efficient method for extracting proteins from human anagen head hairs as short as 1 mm, crucial for forensic casework with limited sample sizes. Using a single hair from a 33-year-old male, the method identified 63 proteins, with 47 found in both hair shaft and root segments, and 16 exclusively in root segments. Keratins and keratin-associated proteins were the major proteins detected, accounting for 60% of the total proteins. The method avoided sample loss and contamination issues, making it suitable for forensic applications. The research was supported by the National Science Foundation and involved collaboration between the FBI Laboratory and The George Washington University.
68 citations,
August 2014 in “PeerJ” Human hair proteins vary by individual, body site, and ethnicity, useful for forensics.
27 citations,
April 2011 in “International journal of legal medicine” In situ DNA labeling in hair can help predict forensic DNA analysis success.
71 citations,
August 2005 in “The journal of investigative dermatology. Symposium proceedings/The Journal of investigative dermatology symposium proceedings” Hair keratin-associated proteins are essential for strong hair, with over 80 genes showing specific patterns and variations among people.
January 2021 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Mothers have more hair proteins than their children, with age-related differences in protein patterns, and some proteins in hair could indicate early childhood development.
Hair proteins in preschool children and their mothers could indicate developmental changes and health status.
12 citations,
July 2016 in “Forensic science international” The research found that postmortem root bands in hair are likely caused by the breakdown of a specific part of the hair's inner structure after death.
36 citations,
September 2011 in “British Journal of Dermatology” White hair grows thicker and faster than black hair due to higher activity of growth-related genes and proteins.
4 citations,
December 2020 in “Mammalian genome” Harlequin mutant mice have hair loss due to low AIF protein levels and retroviral element activity.
