The action of organic acids on some fibrous proteins: the oxidation of wool keratin

Abstract

The cystine of wool is rapidly oxidized by treatment with performic acid. The oxidized wool subsequently dissolves slowly and incompletely in the reagent soln. When wool is oxidized with alkaline H2O2 a small amt. of long-chain peptide material goes into soln. Fibrous proteins partially dissolve in formic acid at room temp.; the extent of solution has been correlated with the molecular configuration of the peptide chains of the protein. The small amt. of wool keratin which is dissolved by formic acid probably consists of peptide chains which have been liberated from the structure by the action of weather on the raw wool. These results are interpreted in terms of changes from the alpha-keratin to the beta-keratin configuration of peptide chains present.