what is keratin?

Question

U may have seen some of my other questions, but im doing a science report and i need to know what keratin is?

Answer 1

Keratins are a family of fibrous structural proteins; tough and insoluble, they form peptide bonds to adjacent protein chains, facilitating their close alignment of the sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, required for the disulfide bridges that confer additional strength and rigidity by permanent, thermally-stable crosslinking — a role sulfur bridges also play in vulcanized rubber. Human hair is approximately 14% cysteine. The pungent smell of burning hair is due to the sulfur compounds formed. Extensive disulfide bonding contributes to the insolubility of keratins, except in dissociating or reducing agents such as urea.

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 2

Keratin is part of cell's cytoskeleton. Cell cytoskeleton consists on 3 kinds: microtubles, actins, and intermidiate filaments. Intermidiate filaments is rope-like shape, helps strengthen cells, and resists from stretching force. Keratin is one kind of intermidiate filaments.

Keratin is present in epithelial cells and its derivations like: hair, nails, horns...

Keratin is often formed from 2 different monomers. These 2 forms the heterodimer then 2 heterodimer will form tetramer and these tetramers line up into bundles to make the filaments.

One common skin disease associated to keratin is the Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex disease in which the skin blister in response to slightest touch. The cause is the mutation in the K14 gene (Keratin 14 gene) in 1 kind of keratin. In normal way, the 2 monomer: K4 and K14 protein form the heterodimer, each 2 heterodimer will form the tetramer and then assembly to filaments. But the mutation in K14 causes the absense of either C- or N- terminal domain in K14 protein, the monomers still can form heterodimer but cannot assembly to filaments, causing the Intermidiate network break up.

Answer 3

Keratin is a fibrous protein that is the material found in the cell of the skin, hair, scales, feathers, beaks, horns etc
.
Also used in formula of some skin products

Fungi feeds on keratin example: athletes foot/ringworm

Hope I helped with your report.

Answer 4

Kerain is a tough, insoluble protein substance that is the chief structural constituent of hair, nails, horns, and hooves.

Thank you for not putting this in the Music category!

Answer 5

properly in case you ever do opt for to do a touch style of keratin remedy back, stay away from something over the counter and go for something professional. exceedingly because artful is a agency that is already universal to operate plastics to their conditioners that progression up on their hair... how might want to you assume them to have a respectable product? besides, you want to do a touch deep conditioning treatments. Mayonnaise or olive oil might want to teach to be sensible, besides the actual undeniable actuality that I easily adore the deep conditioning remedy through Joico. you may want to also take advantage of using argan oil on your hair... your purely going to might want to watch for it to strengthen out regularly inspite of the actuality that.

Answer 6

No matter what the teachers tell you, Wikipedia is your friend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keratin

Answer 7

A protein found in nails and hair.