Keratinized

Examples of Keratinized in the following topics:

• Desmosomes

  • A desmosome is a type of cell junction that attaches to keratin in the cytoplasm and is a localized structure adjoining two cells.
  • A desmosome , also known as macula adherens, is a type of cell junction that attaches to filaments of keratin in the cytoplasm and is characterized by a localized patch that holds two cells tightly together.
  • The Inner Dense Plaque is where desmoplakin attaches to the keratin filaments inside the cell.
  • The symptoms of the diseases are caused by the subsequent disruption to the desmosome-keratin filament complex leading to a breakdown in cell adhesion in the skin.

• Metabolic Functions

  • Keratin is a fibrous protein that aids in protection.
  • Keratin is also a water-proofing protein.
  • The majority of the skin on the body is keratinized, meaning waterproofed.
  • Non-keratinized cells allow water to "stay" atop the structure.
  • The protein keratin stiffens epidermal tissue to form fingernails.

• Nails

  • Finger nails are made of keratin and they perform two major functions: protection and sensation.
  • The fingernail is an important structure made of keratin.
  • The nail plate is the actual fingernail, composed of translucent keratin.

• Structure of the Skin: Epidermis

  • This protein is appropriately called keratin. 
  • The keratinocytes produce a lot of keratin in this layer. 
  • In other words, they become filled with keratin. 
  • This process is known as keratinization. 
  • They are dead skin cells filled with the tough protein keratin. 

• Types of Epithelial Tissue

  • In keratinized epithelia, the most apical layers (exterior) of cells are dead and lose their nucleus and cytoplasm.
  • They contain a tough, resistant protein called keratin.
  • The lining of the esophagus is an example of a non-keratinized or moist stratified epithelium.

• Hemidesmosomes

  • Together, the HD-anchoring filament complex forms a continuous structural link between the basal keratinocyte keratin intermediate filaments and the underlying basement membrane zone (BMZ) and dermal components.
  • An example configuration of a hemidesmosome might consist of cytosolic keratin, non-covalently bonded to a cytosolic plectin plaque, which is bonded to a single-pass transmembrane adhesion molecule such as the α6β4 integrin.

• What is Skin?

  • This is the layer where part of keratin production occurs. 
  • Keratin is a protein that is the main component of skin.   

• Hair

  • These older cells die and become keratinized in the process. 
  • This means that most of the hair is made up of protein (keratin). 

• Intermediate Filaments and Microtubules

  • Keratin cytoskeletal intermediate filaments are concentrated around the edge of the cells and merge into the surface membrane.

• Peptide Synthesis

  • As noted above, fibrous proteins such as keratins, collagens and elastins are robust, relatively insoluble, quaternary structured proteins that play important roles in the physical structure of organisms.
  • Secondary structures such as the α-helix and β-sheet take on a dominant role in the architecture and aggregation of keratins.
  • The more flexible and elastic keratins of hair have fewer interchain disulfide bridges than the keratins in mammalian fingernails, hooves and claws.
  • Keratins have a high proportion of the smallest amino acid, Gly, as well as the next smallest, Ala.
  • Fibrous keratin chains then twist around each other to form helical filaments.