Elsevier

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology

Volume 20, Issue 2, February 1967, Pages 449-452, IN1, 453-460
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology

Species differences in the proteins of feathers

https://doi.org/10.1016/0010-406X(67)90260-5Get rights and content

Abstract

  • 1.

    1. The morphological parts of the feathers from six species of birds are distinctly dissimilar in amino acid composition but the most abundant amino acids are always glycine, serine and proline and there is almost a complete absence of lysine, histidine and methionine in all cases.

  • 2.

    2. An examination of the soluble S-carboxymethyl-proteins of the parts of the different species by moving-boundary and gel electrophoresis shows them all the heterogenous, with marked differences both between species and between the parts of one species.

  • 3.

    3. Solutions of S-carboxymethyl feather keratins undergo spontaneous separation into fractions which differ in their electrophoretic and amino acid compositions.

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