Expression analysis of the type I keratin protein keratin 33A in goat coat hair |
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| Authors: | Michinari YOKOHAMA Kenta WADA Masaru FUJITA Mai KOTANI Yoshio NAGURA Masako KANNO Kou NOMURA Takashi AMANO Yoshiaki KIKKAWA |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Hokkaido;2. National Livestock Breeding Center Tokachi Station, Otofuke, Hokkaido;3. National Livestock Breeding Center Nagano Station, Saku, Nagano;4. Department of Animal Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan |
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| Abstract: | The coat of a goat, like that of many mammalian species, consists of an outer coat of coarse hairs and an under coat of fine, downy hairs. The coarse guard hairs are produced by primary follicles and the finer cashmere hairs by secondary follicles. We previously reported that hair keratins are components of cashmere hair, and proteomic analysis revealed that their expression is elevated in winter coat hair. To determine detailed characterization, we have cloned keratin 33A gene, a major highly expressed keratin in winter, and then analyzed the expression of goat hair coat. By Western analysis, we detected that keratin 33A protein is expressed only in hair coat among the various goat tissues. Moreover, the expression level in winter has increased in cashmere high‐producing Korean native breed, whereas the expression levels between summer and winter had not changed in cashmere low‐producing Saanen. In addition, by immunohistochemistry we determined that keratin 33A is localized in the major cortex portion of cashmere fiber. These results confirm that keratin 33A is a structural protein of goat cashmere hair fiber. |
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| Keywords: | cashmere coat hair goat Keratin 33A |
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