Hair--the most sophisticated biological composite material.
Hair is a proteinaceous fibre with a strongly hierarchical organization of subunits, from the alpha-keratin chains, via intermediate filaments, to the fibre. The chemistry of the different morphological compartments results in exciting physical properties, including the hydrophilic/hydrophobic paradox. The present tutorial review will be of interest for protein- as well as polymer chemists, who want to learn from nature, and also for biochemists interested in the cytoskeleton and particularly in intermediate filaments; it also presents a scientific basis for hair cosmetics.
Popescu
Crisan
C
DWI an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Pauwelsstrasse 8, D-52074 Aachen, Germany. popescu@dwi.rwth-aachen.de
Höcker
Hartwig
H
D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D007633:Keratins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
D011506:Proteins; D007633:Keratins