The role of disulfide bond formation in the structural transition observed in the intermediate filaments of developing hair

• Published in: Journal of structural biology Vol. 180; no. 1; pp. 117 - 124
• Main Authors: Bruce Fraser, R.D., Parry, David A.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.10.2012
• Subjects: Animals; Cystine - chemistry; Disulfide bonds; Hair; Hair - chemistry; Hair development; Humans; Keratins - chemistry; Keratins, Hair-Specific - chemistry; Mice; Models, Molecular; Protein Structure, Quaternary; Protein Structure, Tertiary; Sequence Analysis, Protein; Sheep; Structural transition; Thermodynamics; α-Keratin; Hair; Disulfide bonds; DST; Hair development; α-Keratin; IF; Structural transition

Hair keratin is a composite structure in which intermediate filaments (IF) are embedded in a protein matrix. During the early stages of development in the hair follicle the redox potential is such that the cysteine residues in the IF are maintained in a reduced form. However, at a late stage of deve...