FT-Raman spectroscopic study of keratotic materials: horn, hoof and tortoiseshell.
The Fourier-Transform Raman spectra of some mammalian and reptilian keratins, horn, hoof and tortoiseshell, have been analysed and used for the construction of a database for the identification of highly keratotic samples. The samples investigated were; bovine keratin and hoof, Texas Longhorn cattle horn, kudu horn, tortoiseshell and human finger nail. Significant spectral differences were observed in the 1000-400 cm-1 wavenumber range, which included the conformationally important v(SS) and v(CS) features around 500 and 640 cm-1, respectively. The amide I (1650 cm-1) and amide III (1260 cm-1) bands confirmed that the reptilian keratin studied exists in the beta-sheet conformation, whilst mammalian keratins are predominantly laid down in an alpha-helical conformation. The FT-Raman spectral differences particularly between the horn and hoof specimens are very useful for the non-destructive characterisation of artefacts and provides a novel application of the technique.
Molecular Spectroscopy Group, University of Bradford, UK.
H G
HG
Edwards
D E
DE
Hunt
M G
MG
Sibley
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012104:Reptiles; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman
D007633:Keratins