Keratin definition

Keratin





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2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  keratin \ker"a*tin\, n. [Gr. ke`ras, -atos, horn.] (Physiol.
     Chem.)
     A sulfur-containing fibrous protein constituting the main
     structural protein of hard epidermal tissues, such as horn,
     hair, feathers, nails, claws, hoofs, and the like. It is an
     insoluble substance, and, unlike elastin, is not dissolved


     even by gastric or pancreatic juice. By decomposition with
     sulphuric acid it yields leucine and tyrosine plus various
     other acid-stable amino acids. The amino acid composition
     varies, but it usually has a high percentage of cystine,
     which stabilizes and insolubilizes the protein by forming
     intrachain linkages. A softer form of keratin is present in
     the epidermis and whalebone. Called also {epidermose}.
     [1913 Webster +PJC]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  keratin
       n : a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of
           the skin and in horny tissues such as hair feathers nails
           and hooves [syn: {ceratin}]

















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