Studies on the Proteome of Human Hair: Identification of Histones and Deamidated Keratins

January 2018 in “ Scientific reports ”

Sunil S. Adav, Roopa S. Subbaiaih, Swat Kim Kerk, Amelia Yilin Lee, Hui Ying Lai, Kee Woei Ng, Siu Kwan Sze, Artur Schmidtchen

keratins keratin-associated proteins KAPs intermediate filament proteins deamidation keratin types I and II histones proteomic analysis hair cycle biomarkers hair health hair diseases hair aging hair proteins

Studysummary This study used proteomics to identify various proteins in human hair, which may help develop novel biomarkers for hair health, disease, and aging.

Our plain-language summary. Not medical advice or a treatment recommendation. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before changing treatment. Full disclaimer

The study on the human hair proteome revealed a diverse array of proteins, including keratins, keratin-associated proteins (KAPs), and intermediate filament proteins, which are involved in stress response, immunity, epidermis development, and the hair cycle. Significant deamidation of keratin types I and II and KAPs was observed. Additionally, hair shafts contained histones known for their antimicrobial properties. This proteomic analysis suggested that understanding the composition and modifications of hair proteins could lead to new biomarkers for assessing hair health, diseases, and aging.

View this study on nature.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

10 / 10 results

research Human Hair Shaft Proteomic Profiling: Individual Differences, Site Specificity, And Cuticle Analysis

68 citations , August 2014 in “PeerJ”

This study found that proteomic analysis can distinguish hair samples across different ethnicities and body regions based on keratin protein levels, which may aid forensic hair identification.

research The Ethnic Differences in Hair Damage and Integral Hair Lipid After Ultraviolet Radiation

59 citations , January 2013 in “Annals of Dermatology”

In this study, researchers found that Asian hair contains more integral lipids than European or African hair, which may protect it better from UV-induced damage.

research Biology and Genetics of Hair

89 citations , September 2010 in “Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics”

This review discusses the genetic factors involved in hair follicle morphogenesis and cycling and reports no new clinical results; it emphasizes the role of genes in hereditary hair diseases.

research Hair Shaft Abnormalities: Pili Bifurcati - A Scanning Electron Microscopy Analysis

5 citations , March 2009 in “Pediatric Dermatology”

The study found that pili bifurcati causes hair to intermittently split into two branches, each with its own outer layer.

research Hair Follicle-Specific Keratins And Their Diseases

138 citations , March 2007 in “Experimental cell research”

This review discusses hair keratins and hair follicle-specific epithelial keratins and their association with inherited hair disorders, reporting no new clinical results.

research Proteome Analysis of Human Hair Shaft

122 citations , January 2006 in “Molecular & Cellular Proteomics”

This study found that keratin and other hair proteins in humans are extensively modified posttranslationally, which helps explain the structural characteristics of mature hair.

research A Rapid Extraction Procedure of Human Hair Proteins and Identification of Phosphorylated Species

226 citations , January 2002 in “Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

This study developed a rapid method to extract proteins from human hair, revealing phosphorylation on serine and threonine residues in alpha-keratins and matrix proteins.

research The Catalog of Human Hair Keratins

272 citations , September 2001 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

This study cataloged human type II hair keratins, detailing their expression and differentiation roles in hair follicles and comparing them with type I keratins to explore keratin-pairing principles.

research The Catalog of Human Hair Keratins

235 citations , July 1999 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry”

This study establishes a catalog of human type I hair keratins and identifies their specific roles and expression patterns during hair differentiation and growth in scalp follicles.

research The Role of Keratin Proteins and Their Genes in the Growth, Structure, and Properties of Hair

228 citations , January 1997 in “Birkhäuser Basel eBooks”

This article integrates existing literature on hair follicle structure and formation at the cellular and molecular level, reporting no new findings.