Keratin, type I cuticular Ha2 is a

protein Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...

that in humans is encoded by the ''KRT32''

gene In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...

. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the

keratin Keratin () is one of a family of structural fibrous proteins also known as ''scleroproteins''. Alpha-keratin (α-keratin) is a type of keratin found in vertebrates. It is the key structural material making up scales, hair, nails, feathers, ho ...

gene family. As a

type I hair keratin Hair keratin is a type of keratin found in hair and nails. There are two types of hair keratin: * the acidic ''type I hair keratin'' ** type I hair keratin 1, ** type I hair keratin 2, ** type I hair keratin 3A, ** type I hair keratin 3B, ** ...

, it is an acidic protein which heterodimerizes with

type II hair keratin Hair keratin is a type of keratin found in hair and nails. There are two types of hair keratin: * the acidic ''type I hair keratin'' ** type I hair keratin 1, ** type I hair keratin 2, ** type I hair keratin 3A, ** type I hair keratin 3B, ** ...

to form hair and nails. The type I hair keratins are clustered in a region of chromosome 17q12-q21 and have the same direction of transcription.

References

Further reading