keratin

(noun)

A protein of which hair and nails are comprised.

Related Terms

  • lunula

Examples of keratin in the following topics:

  • Desmosomes

    • A desmosome is a type of cell junction that attaches to keratin in the cytoplasm and is a localized structure adjoining two cells.
    • A desmosome , also known as macula adherens, is a type of cell junction that attaches to filaments of keratin in the cytoplasm and is characterized by a localized patch that holds two cells tightly together.
    • The Inner Dense Plaque is where desmoplakin attaches to the keratin filaments inside the cell.
    • The symptoms of the diseases are caused by the subsequent disruption to the desmosome-keratin filament complex leading to a breakdown in cell adhesion in the skin.
  • Nails

    • Finger nails are made of keratin and they perform two major functions: protection and sensation.
    • The fingernail is an important structure made of keratin.
    • The nail plate is the actual fingernail, composed of translucent keratin.
  • Structure of the Skin: Epidermis

    • This protein is appropriately called keratin. 
    • Keratin makes our skin tough and provides us with much-needed protection from microorganisms, physical harm, and chemical irritation. 
    • The keratinocytes produce a lot of keratin in this layer—they become filled with keratin. 
    • This process is known as keratinization. 
    • They are dead skin cells filled with the tough protein keratin. 
  • Types of Epithelial Tissue

    • In keratinized epithelia, the most apical layers (exterior) of cells are dead and lose their nucleus and cytoplasm.
    • They contain a tough, resistant protein called keratin.
    • The lining of the esophagus is an example of a non-keratinized or moist stratified epithelium.
  • Hemidesmosomes

    • Together, the HD-anchoring filament complex forms a continuous structural link between the basal keratinocyte keratin intermediate filaments and the underlying basement membrane zone (BMZ) and dermal components.
    • An example configuration of a hemidesmosome might consist of cytosolic keratin, non-covalently bonded to a cytosolic plectin plaque, which is bonded to a single-pass transmembrane adhesion molecule such as the α6β4 integrin.
  • Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules

    • Keratin cytoskeletal intermediate filaments are concentrated around the edge of the cells and merge into the surface membrane.
  • Hair

    • These older cells die and become keratinized in the process. 
    • This means that most hair is made up of protein (keratin). 
  • What is Skin?

    • This is the layer where part of keratin production occurs. 
    • Keratin is a protein that is the main component of skin.   
  • Peptide Synthesis

    • As noted above, fibrous proteins such as keratins, collagens and elastins are robust, relatively insoluble, quaternary structured proteins that play important roles in the physical structure of organisms.
    • Secondary structures such as the α-helix and β-sheet take on a dominant role in the architecture and aggregation of keratins.
    • The more flexible and elastic keratins of hair have fewer interchain disulfide bridges than the keratins in mammalian fingernails, hooves and claws.
    • Keratins have a high proportion of the smallest amino acid, Gly, as well as the next smallest, Ala.
    • Fibrous keratin chains then twist around each other to form helical filaments.
  • Characteristics of Reptiles

    • One of the key adaptations that permitted reptiles to live on land was the development of their scaly skin which contains the protein keratin and waxy lipids, reducing water loss from the skin.
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