Amino acid compositions of human hair fibrous protein components purified with two-dimensional electrophoresis.

Normal human S-carboxymethylated (SCM) hair fibrous protein (HFP) components were purified with two-dimensional electrophoresis, and their amino acid compositions were examined. As previously reported, the SCM cysteine and glycine contents of the crude HFPs were characteristically high and low, respectively, as compared with those reported for the stratum corneum fibrous proteins (SCFPs). However, the SCM cysteine and glycine contents of the purified SCM HFP components were not as high or as low, respectively, but were rather very similar to those of the SCFPs. This suggests that, with respect to cysteine and glycine content, fibrous protein components similar to those of the stratum corneum exist in normal human hair.