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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Biophysical Journal: New Aspects of the α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Stretched Hard α-Keratin Fibers
- Biophysical Journal: New Aspects of the α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Stretched Hard α-Keratin Fibers
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Sources of Keratin
Keratin is a fibrous structural protein found in human skin, hair and nails. It is also part of the animal kingdom and found in birds, retiles, amphibians and mammals. It used in hair care products, animal feeds and fibers for textiles. The end use of the keratin is determined by the source of keratin fibers.
Animal Hooves
Keratin can be found in the hooves of animals. It can be scrapped off or boiled down and used in a variety of products such as glue and hair care products. Hoof adhesive is still used in woodworking. Boiling animal hooves for a prolonged period is the way glue is made, according to WoodBin, a DIY woodworking Web Site 3.
Powdered hooves are used as a nutritive agent in animal feed. A 1946 study by the Department of Biochemistry, College of Agriculture at the University of Wisconsin-Madison fed chickens and rats food that contained 30 to 40 percent powdered hoofs. They found that the animals feed the hoof-supplemented food had substantial growth.
- Keratin can be found in the hooves of animals.
- Boiling animal hooves for a prolonged period is the way glue is made, according to WoodBin, a DIY woodworking Web Site 3.
Sheep Hair
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A New Zealand company, Keratec, is using keratin from wool fibers for orthopedic, human tissue repair and consumer products. It uses a natural form of keratin called ‘Functional Keratin’ for biomedical uses. It also has a line of personal care products made from the wool fiber keratin.
Human Skin
Keratin is in human skin and a problem in labs and clean rooms. Keratin contamination, according to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, is a constant battle in the mass spectrometry labs. To resolve the issue, lab coats and gloves have to worn at all times in the lab. This is because keratin from human skin flakes off easily in a natural shedding process.
- Keratin is in human skin and a problem in labs and clean rooms.
Spider Webs
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The keratin protein of the spider web is similar to silk worm keratin protein. Because of the low inflammatory potential of silk protein, spider silk can be used as sutures for eye surgery, artificial tendon and ligaments for knee surgery, according to North Carolina State University.
Silk
The silk protein is considered a b-keratin. Silk fibers are used in health care, foods, clothing and skin care products. Edible silk essence can absorb human amino acids, which makes it useful in the diet industry, according to Huzhou Aotesi Biochemical.
Related Articles
References
- Biophysical Journal: New Aspects of the α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Stretched Hard α-Keratin Fibers
- Finished Carpentry Help: Wood Glue
- WoodBin: Glues
- Bragulla HH, Homberger DG. Structure and functions of keratin proteins in simple, stratified, keratinized and cornified epithelia. J Anat. 2009;214(4):516-59. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2009.01066.x
- Jacob JT, Coulombe PA, Kwan R, Omary MB. Types I and II keratin intermediate filaments. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2018;10(4):a018275. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a018275
- Moll R, Divo M, Langbein L. The human keratins: biology and pathology. Histochem Cell Biol. 2008;129(6):705-33. doi:10.1007/s00418-008-0435-6
- Greenwold MJ, Bao W, Jarvis ED, Hu H, Li C, Gilbert MT, Zhang G, Sawyer RH. Dynamic evolution of the alpha (α) and beta (β) keratins has accompanied integument diversification and the adaptation of birds into novel lifestyles. BMC Evol Biol. 2014;14:249. doi:10.1186/s12862-014-0249-1
- Hassan MM, Carr CM. A review of the sustainable methods in imparting shrink resistance to wool fabrics. J Adv Res. 2019;18:39-60. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2019.01.014
- Thomas M, Khopkar US. Keratosis pilaris revisited: Is it more than just a follicular keratosis?. Int J Trichology. 2012;4(4):255-8. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.111215
- American Academy of Dermatology. Actinic keratosis: Overview.
- MedlinePlus. Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis.
- Madke B, Gutte R, Doshi B, Khopkar U. Hyperkeratotic palmoplantar lichen planus in a child. Indian J Dermatol. 2013;58(5):405. doi:10.4103/0019-5154
- Basit A, Asghar F, Sadaf S, Akhtar MW. Health improvement of human hair and their reshaping using recombinant keratin K31. Biotechnol Rep (Amst). 2018;20:e00288. doi:10.1016/j.btre.2018.e00288
- Patel DP, Swink SM, Castelo-Soccio L. A review of the use of biotin for hair loss. Skin Appendage Disord. 2017;3(3):166-169. doi:10.1159/000462981
- Crum EM, McLeay YD, Barnes MJ, Stannard SR. The effect of chronic soluble keratin supplementation in physically active individuals on body composition, blood parameters and cycling performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2018;15(1):47. doi:10.1186/s12970-018-0251-x
- Pierce JS, Abelmann A, Spicer LJ, Adams RE, Glynn ME, Neier K, Finley BL, Gaffney SH. Characterization of formaldehyde exposure resulting from the use of four professional hair straightening products. J Occup Environ Hyg. 2011;8(11):686-99. doi:10.1080/15459624.2011.626259
- Swenberg JA, Moeller BC, Lu K, Rager JE, Fry RC, Starr TB. Formaldehyde carcinogenicity research: 30 years and counting for mode of action, epidemiology, and cancer risk assessment. Toxicol Pathol. 2013;41(2):181-9. doi:10.1177/0192623312466459
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Writer Bio
Caroline Thompson is a professional photojournalist who has been working for print and online publications since 1999. Her work has appeared in the "Sacramento Bee," "People Magazine," "Newsweek" and other publications. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in photojournalism from California State University at Hayward and a personal trainer certification from the university's Health and Fitness Institute.