Keratin Fibres VII. Proteins of the Histological Components of Kangaroo Fibres

Abstract

Cortical cells, cuticle, and an impure sample of medulla were prepared from kangaroo fibres by vigorous agitation in formic acid at room temperatme, which control experiments show causes no degradation of soluble. high-or low-sulphur proteins. Many reductive extraction procedures were examined and the best method appears to be treatment with O· 2M thioglycollate at pH 11· 0 in 8M urea for 3 hr at 40°C, followed by coupling with iodoacetate. The high-and low-sulphur proteins from kangaroo fibres and its histological components were prepared and examined by gel filtration using Agarose in 8M urea at pH 8 with a column calibrated for measurement of molecular weight.