keratin

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Related to Keratins: actin, hard keratin

keratin

a substance found in the dead outer skin and in horn, hoofs, nails, claws, etc.
Not to be confused with:
carotene – orange fat-soluble pigments found in some plants, such as carrots; vitamin A
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

ker·a·tin

 (kĕr′ə-tĭn)
n.
1. Any of a class of filamentous proteins that are abundant in the cytoskeleton of vertebrate epithelial cells and are the main constituents of the outer layer of skin and tough epidermal structures such as hair, nails, hooves, feathers, and claws.
2. Material composed principally of keratin proteins.
[Greek keras, kerāt-, horn; see ker- in Indo-European roots + -in.]
ke·rat′i·nous (kə-răt′n-əs) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

keratin

(ˈkɛrətɪn) or

ceratin

n
(Zoology) a fibrous protein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in hair, nails, feathers, hooves, etc
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ker•a•tin

(ˈkɛr ə tɪn)

n.
a tough, insoluble protein that is the main constituent of hair, nails, horn, hoofs, etc., and of the outermost layer of skin.
[1840–50; < Greek kerat-, s. of kéras horn + -in1]
ker`a•tin•i•za′tion, n.
ker′a•tin•ize`, vb
ke•rat•i•nous (kəˈræt n əs) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ker·a·tin

(kĕr′ə-tĭn)
A tough, fibrous protein that is the main structural component of hair, nails, horns, feathers, and hooves.
Did You Know? Nature ingeniously uses the same chemicals to perform a wide variety of functions in living things. An example is the group of closely related proteins known as the keratins. When nature wants something hard and tough for an animal, it turns to keratins. Your nails and hair are made mostly of a kind of keratin, and so are a dog's claws, a bird's beak, and a goat's horns. Even the hard material called baleen that some whales have in their mouths to help them eat is made of a variety of keratin. All proteins are strings of amino acids, and the keratins' secret is the amino acid known as cysteine. This amino acid tends to form strong bonds with other cysteines in the protein. The different keratins vary in hardness, depending on how many cysteine bonds are present. The bonds are what make the keratins tough as, well, nails.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

keratin

A hard, waterproof protein found in the epidermis, hair, and nails.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.keratin - a fibrous scleroprotein that occurs in the outer layer of the skin and in horny tissues such as hair, feathers, nails, and hooves
ceratin
feather, plumage, plume - the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds
hair - a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss; "he combed his hair"; "each hair consists of layers of dead keratinized cells"
horn - the material (mostly keratin) that covers the horns of ungulates and forms hooves and claws and nails
albuminoid, scleroprotein - a simple protein found in horny and cartilaginous tissues and in the lens of the eye
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
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keratin

[ˈkɛrətɪn] n → cheratina
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

ker·a·tin

n. queratina, proteína orgánica insoluble, elemento componente de las uñas, la piel y el cabello.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

keratin

n queratina
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive ?
and Konishi, Y., 1996, "Preparation of stable aqueous solution of keratins, and physicochemicaland biodegradational properties of films," J.
Study on secondary structure and thermal properties of keratin and sugar blend films
The T cells respond to antigenic short peptides common to streptococcal M-protein and skin keratins, Dr.
Tonsillectomy may cut strep-triggered psoriasis: the surgery removes an important source of T cells
Keratec is the only company that is currently able to manufacture Functional Keratin[TM] as it has developed and patented unique keratin extraction processes, which leave the natural amino acid structure intact and therefore fully potent, unlike hydrolysed keratins which are available from other sources.
Keratec Ltd
It also activates skin structure proteins called keratins. Researchers reasoned this might give the compound therapeutic value in the treatment of EBS.
vital: Broccoli benefits
There is an increase in the demand for vitamins and keratin dietary supplements, particularly keratins bars and shakes due to the increase in health complications.
Global Keratin Market Forecast Report, 2019-2023 - Rising Applicability of Keratin in Wound Treatments Spurs Market Growth
Keratins are naturally fibrous proteins found in animal tissues, including hair, wool, and horns, characterized by high chemical stability due to the presence of many cysteine residues (7-20%) forming inter and intramolecular disulfide bonds [1].
Fabrication of Electrospun Keratin Nanofiber Membranes for Air and Water Treatment
Shanmugam, Transient structures of keratins from hoof and horn influence their self association and supramolecular assemblies.
Isolation of Keratinolytic Bacterial Strains from poultry farm Soil Samples; Production, Optimization and Thermal Characterization of the Keratinase Enzyme(s)
Keratins are classified as fibrous proteins known as scleroproteins that are present abundantly in epithelial cells.
Bacillus subtilis BML5 Isolated from Soil Contaminated with Poultry Waste has Keratinolytic Activity
Over the past decade, a family of intermediate filament proteins, namely keratins has been gaining substantial interest as a substrate for surface coating.
Engineered Biomaterial Surfaces for Neonatal Murine Cardiomyocyte Culture Toward Understanding Cardiac Hypertrophy
The present study adds mammalian and bird keratins to the list of Hcy-proteins identified in vivo.
Mutations in Homocysteine Metabolism Genes Increase Keratin N-Homocysteinylation and Damage in Mice
Photochemical crosslinking of soluble wool keratins produces a mechanically stable biomaterial that supports cell adhesion and proliferation.
Rebuild Youthful Skin, Hair, and Nails from Within

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