A comparative study of covalently-bound fatty acids in keratinized tissues.

ABSTRACT

1. Covalently-bound fatty acids were characterized in keratinous tissues obtained from a wide range of animals. 2. 18-Methyleicosanoic acid was a major component in all the mammalian fur samples examined except monotreme fur. In monotreme fur 26-carbon fatty acids predominated. 3. Fatty acids from feather keratin and reptile skin had different profiles to the alpha-keratins of mammalian fur. 4. The major forms of covalently-bound fatty acids are very similar in species that diverged up to 125 million years ago.