STRUCTURE OF α-KERATIN

Abstract

THE structure of the keratins is of interest alike to wool technologists and protein structure analysts. Interpretation, by Astbury and his colleagues^1-4, of the essential features of these fibres in terms of the shape and interlinking of polypeptide chains has earned increasing recognition. The results, achieved from relatively simple X-ray data determined under controlled conditions and used in conjunction with other physico-chemical findings, together with general advances in our knowledge of macromolecular systems, demanded an extension to more intensive X-ray methods. Accordingly, with the support of the International Wool Secretariat, an investigation in progress for some time in the Textile Physics Laboratory, University of Leeds, has aimed at improved range and definition in keratin fibre X-radiograms, with the final objective of a complete analysis of the more crystalline material. Some longer spacings^5-7 were already available, and some preliminary findings have been reported⁸. Analysis is still in its earlier stages, but in view of the interest attaching to very recent work^9,10 with which the present investigation is bound up, a factual publication is not premature.