Lipids of keratinized tissues

V. M. Tkachuk, P. V. Stapay, N. S. Strohush

The literatures and author`s data about the role and content of structural lipids in sheep`s wool and others keratinized tissues were summarized in the paper. It was shown wool keratin contains 1 % of total lipids, which are the main components of cell membranes. These lipids covalently constrained through ether or tioether connections with proteins of hair and determine their superficial peculiarity such as formation of waterproof layer. The main components of keratin lipids ( 40 %) are ceramids, and the dominant among fatty acids is 18-methyleicosanoic acid (anteisobranched C21:0). But the different structure of wool fibre contain different contents of lipids. Most lipids contain in the -keratose, cuticle of wool fibre. -keratose (matrix) contains only nonetherificated and etherificated cholesterol, it is most rich in other polar lipids. ?-keratose, protein of macro- and microfibrills, is characterized comparatively low content of lipids.

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