A Study of the Proteins of the Wool Follicle

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Abstract
A study has been made of the incorporation at differenct levels in the developing fiber of S35 into the 2 main protein fractions of [sheep] wool. The proteins were studied as the S-carboxymethyl derivatives rather than as the oxidized derivatives previously investigated. The results obtained give further support for a mechanism of synthesis which involves 2 stages. However, the incorporation of some S35 into the low-sulphur fraction of the keratinized fiber only 24 hr. after the injection of [S35] cystine is somewhat surprising and possible explanations for this were considered. A detailed comparison has been made of the proteins extracted from the unkeratinized portions of wool roots by 8M urea with those which can be extracted from the keratinized residue with urea[long dash]thioglycollate. The latter proteins were very similar to those isolated from wool itself. The group of urea-soluble, high-sulphur proteins was different in containing considerable amounts of protein lower in both molecular weight and sulphur content than the comparable fraction from the fully keratinized wool. The possibility is discussed that some of these urea-soluble, high-sulphur proteins may be precursors of those in the fully keratinized fiber, conversion taking place by a process of sulphur enrichment.

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