Ultra-high-sulphur proteins in the hairs of the artiodactyla

Abstract

Wool follicles are potentially able to synthesize specific high.sulphur proteins in which about 30% of the amino acid residues are half-cystine (Gillespie and Reis 1966). The amount of these proteins incorporated into the fibre is related to the availability of sulphur-containing amino acids for metabolism in the sheep. There is a linear relation between the sulphur content of a wool fibre and its content of these proteins (Broad, Gillespie, and Reis 1970). Similar proteins have been found in the hairs of animals from four families(Suidae 1; Camelidae 3; Cervidae 1; and Bovidae 7) of the order Artiodactyla in amounts which bear a linear relationship to the sulphur content of the hair. This suggests that sheep are not unique in this respect and that other Artiodactyla have asimilar cysteine-regulated biosynthesis of certain of their hair proteins. © 1972 CSIRO.