Proteomic Tools for the Investigation of Human Hair Structural Proteins and Evidence of Weakness Sites on Hair Keratin Coil Segments
October 2011
in “
Analytical biochemistry
”
proteomic mass spectrometry multidimensional protein identification technology MudPit two-dimensional gel electrophoresis 2-DE gel MS human hair cortex proteins keratins keratin-associated proteins KAPs posttranslational modifications cysteine trioxidation lysine methylation histidine methylation α-helical segments hair keratins proteomic MS hair proteins cysteine oxidation alpha-helical segments
TLDR Hair proteins have weak spots in their α-helical segments.
The study utilized proteomic mass spectrometry (MS)-based strategies, specifically multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPit) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with MS (2-DE gel MS), to analyze human hair cortex proteins. These methods identified all keratins and major keratin-associated proteins (KAPs), along with posttranslational modifications such as cysteine trioxidation, lysine, and histidine methylation. The 2-DE gel MS revealed unexpected heterogeneity in keratin structures and suggested a preferential breaking zone in α-helical segments of hair keratins, providing insights into the structural weaknesses of hair proteins.
