The structure of the α-keratin microfibril. Issue 6 (June 1983)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fraser, R. D. B.; MacRae, T. P.
• Is Part Of: Bioscience reports. Volume 3:Issue 6(1983)
• Page Start: 517
• Page End: 525
• Publication Date: 1983-06
• Subjects: Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01120695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0144-8463

Abstract

Abstract : Quantitative measurements of the intensity of the meridional reflections in the X-ray-diffraction pattern of α-keratin are shown to be consistent with a microfibril structure in which a surface lattice with an axially projected period around 200 Å is subject to a periodic interruption with an axially projected period of 470 Å. Taken in conjunction with recent evidence on the chemical structure of α-keratin and other inter-mediate filaments this finding enables an elaboration to be made of a model proposed earlier by RDB Fraser, TP MacRae, & E Suzuki (3. Mol. Biol. 108, 435–452, 1976.) for the α-helical framework of the microfibrii. The disposition and connectivity of the helical segments suggested here provides a straightforward explanation of a number of recent physicochemical and electron-microscopical observations on intermediate filaments and provides a starting point for the development of models for the framework of other intermediate filaments.