Abstract
FIBROUS keratin is formed in the germinal or differentiating cells of keratinizing tissues and appears in the cytoplasm as birefringent fibrils. The fibrils are rich in sulphydryl groups, and electron microscopy shows that they consist of long filaments with a diameter of about 60 Å (refs. 1–3). The molecular structure of prekeratin as revealed by X-ray diffraction appears to be similar to that of keratin4,5. Since the α-pattern of prekeratin is readily disoriented by concentrated urea solution5, it seems that the molecular framework is primarily held together by hydrogen bonds; disulphide linkages are absent.
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References
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MATOLTSY, A. Prekeratin. Nature 201, 1130–1131 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/2011130b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2011130b0
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