Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei-Chieh Chen, Nien-Chen Hsieh, Mao-Cong Huang, Kai-Chiang Yang, Jiashing Yu, Yang Wei
Summary: In preclinical studies, it has been found that human hair, containing keratin proteins, can be effectively used for hemostasis. However, due to the complex mixture and diverse molecular weights and structures of keratin proteins, their hemostatic capacity varies. To optimize the use of human hair keratin for hemostasis, the effects of different keratin fractions on fibrinogen precipitation were investigated. It was found that a mixture of high molecular weight keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs) and low molecular weight keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) in equal proportions yielded the most extensive precipitation of soluble fibrinogen. However, all hair protein samples showed different catalytic behaviors compared to thrombin, suggesting the potential of utilizing specific hair fractions to develop optimized hair protein-based hemostatic materials.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Acoustics
Xiaojie Qin, Chuan Yang, Yujie Guo, Jiqian Liu, Johannes H. Bitter, Elinor L. Scott, Chunhui Zhang
Summary: Keratin regeneration from chicken feathers was achieved using ultrasound and Cysteine reduction without causing damage to the chemical structure and thermal stability of the regenerated keratin. The study provides an alternative method for keratin production from feather waste, showing promise in utilization and valorization.
ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana C. Laly, Kristina Sliogeryte, Oscar J. Pundel, Rosie Ross, Michael C. Keeling, Deepa Avisetti, Ahmad Waseem, Nuria Gavara, John T. Connelly
Summary: The keratin cytoskeleton plays a critical role in sensing matrix rigidity, with keratinocytes adapting to increased stiffness by forming a rigid interconnected network and boosting cell stiffness. Mutations disrupting keratin stability hinder the normal mechanical response and impair mechanotransduction. Depletion of cytolinker proteins, however, enhances mechanoresponsiveness and up-regulates lamin A/C.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Guilherme E. de Q. E. Souza, Glaucia R. M. Burin, Graciela I. B. de Muniz, Helton J. Alves
Summary: This systematic review examines the potential of using feather waste as a source of beta-keratin, with a focus on the Brazilian context. It covers the structure and properties of alpha- and beta-keratin, methods of extracting keratin from poultry feathers, and applications of feather keratin-based materials. The review conducted literature searches for poultry production data in Brazil from 2021 to 2022, as well as extraction methods and applications of feather keratin from 2001 to 2022. The improper disposal of poultry feathers in Brazil contributes to environmental problems and disease transmission, making it advantageous to develop processes that add value to this byproduct, such as keratin extraction.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Malgorzata Dabrowska, Agata Sommer, Izabela Sinkiewicz, Antoni Taraszkiewicz, Hanna Staroszczyk
Summary: This study focused on the alkaline hydrolysis of keratin from chicken feathers, finding that the volume ratio of 1M NaOH to the feathers' mass had a significant effect on process yield, while input variables did not significantly affect the molecular weight of peptides obtained. Statistical analysis reduced the number of trials, improving experimental efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Bowen Yu, Dandan Kong, Chen Cheng, Dongxi Xiang, Longxing Cao, Yingbin Liu, Yongning He
Summary: Keratins play a crucial role in maintaining the mechanical properties of cells and are involved in various cellular activities. However, the structural details and assembly mechanisms of keratins are still poorly understood.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Mary Higby Schweitzer, Wenxia Zheng, Nancy Equall
Summary: This study experimentally investigates the effects of burial/exposure, sediment type, the addition of feather-degrading microbes, and minerals on feather preservation, and compares these effects in different CO2 atmospheres. The results suggest that the elevated CO2 levels in the Mesozoic may have contributed to the preservation of feathers by promoting rapid precipitation of hydroxy- or carbonate hydroxyapatite and stabilizing organic components.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Emma Sparr, Sebastian Bjoerklund, Q. Dat Pham, Enamul H. Mojumdar, B. Stenqvist, M. Gunnarsson, D. Topgaard
Summary: This paper discusses the recent findings on molecular responses and structural diversity in the stratum corneum (SC) of our skin. It also focuses on the macroscopic properties of SC, such as mechanical strength and efficient barrier function.
CURRENT OPINION IN COLLOID & INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Alexandru Bacanu, James F. Pelletier, Yoon Jung, Nikta Fakhri
Summary: In living systems, molecular interactions form multiscale structures that mediate processes in a close relationship between structure and function. However, their dynamics remain poorly characterized due to a lack of methods to quantify non-equilibrium activity. By measuring time-reversal asymmetry encoded in conformational dynamics of carbon nanotubes, we characterize the multiscale dynamics of non-equilibrium activity and relate it to physical parameters. Our analysis provides a general tool to characterize non-equilibrium activity in high-dimensional spaces.
NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
V. S. Veena, P. Schilke, A. Sanchez-Monge, M. C. Sormani, R. S. Klessen, F. Schuller, D. Colombo, T. Csengeri, M. Mattern, J. S. Urquhart
Summary: The study reports the discovery of a kiloparsec-scale molecular structure towards the Galactic center region, believed to be a kiloparsec-scale feature of the Milky Way with a large angular extent and aspect ratio. The kinematic distance of the structure ranges between 4.4 and 6.5 kpc.
ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Madeleine Keefe, Xin Gen Lei
Summary: The black carpet beetle is a unique household pest with the ability to digest keratin-rich materials like feathers. Transcriptome analysis revealed a high proportion of proteases in the beetle, indicating a strong likelihood of keratinolytic function.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Jagoda Jozwik-Pruska, Krystyna Wrzesniewska-Tosik, Tomasz Mik, Ewa Wesolowska, Tomasz Kowalewski, Michalina Palczynska, Damian Walisiak, Magdalena Szalczynska
Summary: This study verified the accelerated biodegradation of nonwovens in cultivated soil with the addition of poultry feathers. The presence of waste rich in keratin positively influenced the biodegradation time of the tested materials. The investigation on ecotoxicity showed no negative effects on microbiological activity. The determination of carbon to nitrogen ratio indicated an increased nutrient content with feather addition. This research is important for managing poultry feather waste in agriculture and provides an environmentally safe alternative.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Deok-Jin Jeon, Seungmuk Ji, Eunok Lee, Jihun Kang, Jiyeong Kim, Liliana D'Alba, Marie Manceau, Matthew D. Shawkey, Jong-Souk Yeo
Summary: The thickness of the keratin cortex plays a significant role in producing colors in feathers, with the position of the major reflectance peak determined by the cortex thickness. Specifically, the common pheasant has the appropriate keratin cortex thickness to produce blue and green structural colors. This finding provides a general principle of structural color production and sheds light on the evolution of brilliant iridescent colors in the common pheasant.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ruben Javier-Lopez, Edoardo Mandolini, Munavvara Dzhuraeva, Khursheda Bobodzhanova, Nils-Kare Birkeland
Summary: A new subspecies of Fervidobacterium pennivorans, named T, was discovered in a high-altitude hot spring in Tajikistan. Strain T is an obligate anaerobic rod that can degrade feather keratin at high temperatures, similar to other members of the Fervidobacterium genus. This study provides insights into the physiological and genomic properties of strain T, highlighting its unique keratinolytic ability.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yi Chen, Chih-Chia Wang, Yu-shuan Ma, Yuan-Yu Chao, Ching-Li Tseng, Yang Wei
Summary: The study investigated the effects of different fractions of keratin on the keratin/PEGDA composite properties, measured porosity and conducted mechanical behavior tests to determine material strengths. The gel properties highly correlated with the content of KAPs/KIFs, showing that modulating this ratio leads to a keratin/PEGDA composite with more controllable gel properties.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)