Seasonal Variability in Transcript Expression of Type I and Type II Keratins in Wool Follicles of Lustrous Fleece-Producing Magra Sheep

February 2023 in “ Journal of Natural Fibers ”

Rajiv Kumar, A.S. Meena, Ashish Chopra, Ajay Kumar, Ramesh Chandra Sharma, Arun Kumar

keratin type I keratin type II keratin K32 K40 K82 wool follicles quantitative PCR RNA samples non-synonymous mutations keratin proteins

Studysummary This study found that Magra sheep with high-luster wool exhibited significantly higher expression of keratin genes, suggesting that increased keratin protein levels may be crucial for wool luster.

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

The study on Magra sheep examined the seasonal variations in the expression of type I and type II keratin genes in wool follicles, focusing on their impact on wool luster. Wool samples were collected in February, July, and October and categorized by luster. Quantitative PCR analysis of 36 RNA samples showed that keratin genes, particularly K32, K40, and K82, were upregulated in high-luster wool, with significant expression differences noted in July and October. Sequence analysis revealed non-synonymous mutations in K40 and K82, though no direct link to luster was found. The study suggested that higher keratin protein levels might enhance wool luster, highlighting the importance of keratins in the cuticle and cortical regions.

View this study on tandfonline.com →

Discuss this study in the Community →

Research cited in this study

8 / 8 results

research Keratin Gene Expression Differences in Wool Follicles and Sequence Diversity of High Glycine-Tyrosine Keratin-Associated Proteins in Magra Sheep of India

9 citations , December 2018 in “Journal of Natural Fibers”

This study found that K33A was significantly upregulated in lustrous Magra wool follicles, while other keratin and KAP genes showed downregulation, impacting wool's physical properties like luster.

research Types I and II Keratin Intermediate Filaments

211 citations , April 2018 in “Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology”

Keratins are crucial for cell structure, growth, and disease risk.

research Diversity of Trichocyte Keratins and Keratin-Associated Proteins

16 citations , January 2018 in “Advances in experimental medicine and biology”

This review discusses the diversity of keratins and keratin-associated proteins in wool and hair, noting significant variation in their families, with no new results reported; the authors detail known protein structures without experimental findings.

research Differential Expression of KRT83 Regulated by the Transcription Factor CAP1 in Chinese Tan Sheep

5 citations , March 2017 in “Gene”

This study found that the transcription factor CAP1 negatively regulates KRT83 expression in Tan sheep, possibly influencing their curly hair phenotype.

research Annotation of Sheep Keratin Intermediate Filament Genes and Their Patterns of Expression

83 citations , May 2011 in “Experimental Dermatology”

In this study, researchers identified nine new sheep keratin genes, highlighting species-specific differences in the expression and compartmentalization of wool-related keratin genes compared to humans.

research Characterizing Wool Keratin

69 citations , January 2009 in “Advances in Materials Science and Engineering”

This study demonstrated that keratin can be effectively extracted from wool using alkaline solutions and that the extracted keratin maintains reactivity similar to that from other low-value sources like cattle hair.

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.

research Characterization of a Hair (Wool) Keratin Intermediate Filament Gene Domain

40 citations , February 1994 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology”