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Distribution Patterns of Soft and Hard Keratin Proteins in Finger Nails, Cat Claws, and Horse Hooves
Author(s) -
Bragulla Hermann H.,
Foster Antoine L.,
Stokes Ashley M.,
Lopez Mandy J.,
Homberger Dominique G.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.822.3
Subject(s) - keratin , biology , keratin 6a , anatomy , hoof , claw , microbiology and biotechnology , intermediate filament , pathology , cell , biochemistry , cytoskeleton , medicine , genetics , ecology
Nails, claws, and hooves are the three basic forms of digital end organs that cover the tip of a digit and serve various primary functions, e.g., palpation, catching prey or weight bearing. Digital end organs are complex structures with varying growth rates and mechanical properties to meet locally defined functional demands. Different segments of digital end organs vary in their type of keratinization, but the specific keratin proteins have not yet been determined. In the present study, the keratin proteins were studied in digital end organs using a fractionated extraction method. The extracted keratin proteins were separated on SDS‐PAGE gels, transferred to nitrocellulose or PVDF paper and blotted using an array of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. The distribution of the keratin proteins in the digital end organs and their possible influence on the mechanical properties of digital end organs are discussed to establish the base‐line information needed to be able to identify pathologies afflicting digital end organs. Understanding the segment‐specific synthesis of keratin proteins in digital end organs in situ is a prerequisite for studying their keratinization process in cell culture.