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Hydrolysis of human horny cells by alkaline protease: Morphological observation of the process
Author(s) -
Hoshino Eiichi,
Maruta Kazunari,
Wada Yasunao,
Mori Kazuo
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of the american oil chemists' society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.512
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1558-9331
pISSN - 0003-021X
DOI - 10.1007/bf02541026
Subject(s) - keratin , hydrolysis , protease , hydrolysate , alkaline protease , cleavage (geology) , chemistry , biophysics , intermediate filament , biochemistry , cell , enzyme , biology , cytoskeleton , paleontology , fracture (geology)
The interaction of highly purified alkaline protease from Bacillus sp. KSM‐K16 with the horny cells of human skin contained in skin grime was directly visualized by electron microscopy. It became clear that the protease first penetrates the horny cells and then adsorbs, mainly onto the internal structure of the cells at the initial stage of hydrolysis, and directly hydrolyzes the keratin filaments, though the marginal band surrounding them retains its original shape. Then, hydrolysate produced from the keratin filaments flows out of the cell, and early in the hydrolysis process keratin filaments decrease and then disappear, leaving a marginal band, i.e., the cell turns to a hollow state. As a result, the remaining marginal band loses support from inside the cell, thus promoting cleavage and dispersion. Until this stage in the protease reaction, the remarkable liberation of hydrolysis products as water‐soluble protein does not occur.