A group of scientists in France have undertaken a study to examine the structure of proteins in human hair.
A group of scientists in France have undertaken a study to examine the structure of proteins in human hair.1
Hair is subjected to a variety of treatments during its growth and these can cause irreversible damage. Studying the structure of hair proteins can be challenging due to their physiochemical properties so the team used two complementary approaches to solve this issue.
The multidimensional protein identification technology (MudPit) approach allowed the team to identify eight of the nine type I keratins and five of the six type II keratins, as well as the major KAPs. Posttranslational modifications in keratins, including cysteine trioxidation, lysine and histidine methylation, were also identified.
Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with MS was able to provide a complete 2D gel pattern of human hair proteins. Cleaved species in hair keratins were found. Where these broken proteins have come from is not clear but the results indicate a preferential breaking zone in α−helical segments. These fragmented proteins were also only observable following gel separation, which highlights the importance of the two complementary proteomics approaches.
1. N. Cavusoglu et al., Analytical Biochemisty, 421, 43–55 (2012).
This story originally appeared in The Column. Click here to view that issue.
Inside the Laboratory: The Gionfriddo Group at the University at Buffalo
March 28th 2024In this edition of “Inside the Laboratory,” Emanuela Gionfriddo, PhD, an associate professor of chemistry at the University at Buffalo, discusses her group’s current research endeavors, including using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC) to further understand the chemical relationship between environmental exposure and disease and elucidate micropollutants fate in the environment and biological systems.
Transferring Methods to Compact and Portable HPLC
February 14th 2024The current trend in laboratory equipment design is the miniaturization of laboratory instruments. Smaller-scale HPLC instruments offer benefits that cannot be matched by analytical-scale equipment, especially in the areas of portability, reduced fluid volumes, and reduced operating costs. Yet, the miniaturization of laboratory equipment has brought with it a unique set of challenges, including transferring methods to compact LC. Capillary LC expands the use of LC to applications not currently done using conventional LC in a wide array of application areas, including pharmaceutical, food and beverage, petrochemical, environmental, and oil and gas. Greg Ward, Axcend’s CEO wrote, “Customers want an HPLC system with a small footprint, low flow rates and green chemistry.” Join his podcast where he shares method transfer in these application areas.