Structure and Hair Follicle-Specific Expression of Genes Encoding the Rat High Sulfur Protein B2 Family

The study focused on the rat high sulfur protein B2 family, which are cysteine-rich proteins involved in hair fiber formation. Researchers isolated two genes, B2E and B2F, from a rat genomic library, finding that both lacked introns and were located close to each other. Sequence analysis revealed regulatory elements in their 5' flanking regions. The proteins encoded by these genes had distinct repetitive domains and were specifically expressed in the cortex of the hair shaft. Expression levels of B2 increased during the anagen phase and decreased during the telogen phase, indicating their role in hair fiber production during hair growth.