Beta-keratin
protein family
Beta-keratin (β-keratin) is a member of a structural protein family found in the epidermis of reptiles, birds, and pangolins.
It forms a substance that is rigid and waterproof, with different versions of the protein appearing in scales, claws, and feathers.
It was considered a type of keratin because it is analogous to the keratin in mammals, but it is now instead considered a "beta-protein."
Structure
Beta-keratins were named due to their composition of stacked beta sheets in the epidermal stratum corneum, distinguishing them from alpha-keratins, which are intermediate-filament proteins rich in alpha helices. Recent studies suggest that the term keratin should be restricted to alpha-keratins. As a result, "beta-keratins" are now often referred to as "corneous beta-proteins" or "keratin-associated beta-proteins."
Function
β-keratins contribute significantly to the rigidity and waterproofing of reptilian skin by being impregnated into the stratum corneum. This provides protection against desiccation and enhances durability in terrestrial environments. In birds, β-keratin is found in the scales, beaks, claws, and feathers. Phylogenetic studies indicate that feather β-keratins evolved from scale β-keratins. The scale β-keratins form the basal group in avians, followed by claw β-keratin genes, with further recombination leading to new feather and feather-like β-keratin genes. These evolutionary patterns correlate with genomic loci.
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This entry incorporates text from “Beta-keratin” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.