TLDR Human hair contains diverse proteins, including keratins and histones, which could help assess hair health and aging.
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.
68 citations,
August 2014 in “PeerJ” Human hair proteins vary by individual, body site, and ethnicity, useful for forensics.
89 citations,
September 2010 in “Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics” The document concludes that understanding the genes and pathways involved in hair growth is crucial for developing treatments for hair diseases.
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.
138 citations,
March 2007 in “Experimental cell research” Only a few hair-specific keratins are linked to inherited hair disorders.
235 citations,
July 1999 in “Journal of biological chemistry/The Journal of biological chemistry” Human hair is made up of different keratins, some strong and some weak, with specific types appearing at various stages of hair growth.
38 citations,
October 2011 in “Analytical biochemistry” Hair proteins have weak spots in their α-helical segments.
35 citations,
April 2014 in “Journal of proteomics” Feed restriction in sheep leads to finer wool fibers but may reduce wool quality.
22 citations,
August 2020 in “Cells” TGM3 is important for skin and hair structure and may help diagnose cancer.
7 citations,
June 2017 in “Omics” The study developed a method to analyze ancient hair proteins using very small samples.
October 2024 in “Cosmetics” Afro-textured hair needs personalized care due to its unique genetic traits.