Studies on Oxidized Wool VI. Interactions Between High- and Low-'Sulphur Proteins and their Significance in the Purification of Extracted Wool Proteins

Abstract

The amounts of protein extractable from wool following oxidation with performic acid, and the yields of high. sulphur (y·keratose) and low· sulphur (",-keratose) fractions have been shown to depend markedly on the conditions of dialysis used to remove excess performic acid reagent. The results are explained by assuming that denaturation occurs in warm dilute formic acid. Following denaturation in this way, or following exposure to solutions of trichloroacetic acid or to alkali at pH 11, the extracted proteins are more readily separated into high. and low· sulphur fractions.