Biomaterial Database

Integral lipids of hair and stratum corneum. 1997

P W Wertz

Dows Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.

Within the past 10 years, covalently bound lipids have been identified both in wool and hair and in epidermal stratum corneum. In hair, fatty acids, the most abundant of which is 18-methyleicosanoic acid, are attached via thioester linkages to protein at the outer surface of cuticle cells. This lipid layer, the fatty layer or F-layer, is thought to be of major significance in determining the surface properties of hair and wool. In epidermal stratum corneum, the covalently attached lipid has been identified as an omega-hydroxyceramide consisting of 30-through 34-carbon omega-hydroxyacids amide-linked to sphingosine bases. The hydroxyceramide molecules are attached to the outer surface of the cornified envelope through ester linkages, and provide a monolayer covering the outer surface of all corneocytes. This covalently bound lipid layer, or lipid envelope, interacts with free lipids and has a major influence on the organization of lipid lamellar structures in the intercellular space.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008055	Lipids	A generic term for fats and lipoids, the alcohol-ether-soluble constituents of protoplasm, which are insoluble in water. They comprise the fats, fatty oils, essential oils, waxes, phospholipids, glycolipids, sulfolipids, aminolipids, chromolipids (lipochromes), and fatty acids. (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Lipid
D002454	Cell Differentiation	Progressive restriction of the developmental potential and increasing specialization of function that leads to the formation of specialized cells, tissues, and organs.	Differentiation, Cell,Cell Differentiations,Differentiations, Cell
D004817	Epidermis	The external, nonvascular layer of the skin. It is made up, from within outward, of five layers of EPITHELIUM: (1) basal layer (stratum basale epidermidis); (2) spinous layer (stratum spinosum epidermidis); (3) granular layer (stratum granulosum epidermidis); (4) clear layer (stratum lucidum epidermidis); and (5) horny layer (stratum corneum epidermidis).
D005227	Fatty Acids	Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed)	Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D006197	Hair	A filament-like structure consisting of a shaft which projects to the surface of the SKIN from a root which is softer than the shaft and lodges in the cavity of a HAIR FOLLICLE. It is found on most surfaces of the body.	Fetal Hair,Hair, Fetal,Lanugo,Fetal Hairs,Hairs,Hairs, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000078404	Epidermal Cells	Cells from the outermost, non-vascular layer (EPIDERMIS) of the skin.	Epidermal Cell,Epidermic Cells,Cell, Epidermal,Cell, Epidermic,Cells, Epidermic,Epidermic Cell
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012756	Sheep	Any of the ruminant mammals with curved horns in the genus Ovis, family Bovidae. They possess lachrymal grooves and interdigital glands, which are absent in GOATS.	Ovis,Sheep, Dall,Dall Sheep,Ovis dalli
D014935	Wool	The hair of SHEEP or other animals that is used for weaving or felting.