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Expression of a Wool Intermediate Filament Keratin Transgene in Sheep Fibre Alters Structure

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Abstract

Alteration of the protein composition of the wool fibre via transgenesis with sheep wool keratin and keratin associated protein (KAP) genes may lead to production of fibre types with improved processing and wearing qualities. Using this approach, we have demonstrated that high level cortical-specific expression of a wool type II intermediate filament (IF) keratin gene, K2.10, leads to marked alterations in both the microstructure and macrostructure of the wool fibres, which have higher lustre and reduced crimp. Analysis of mRNA found reduced levels of transcripts from endogenous cortical type I (p < 0.05) and type II (p < 0.01) keratin IF genes and from the KAP8 (p < 0.001) and KAP2 (p < 0.01) gene families. Examination of protein composition revealed an altered ratio in the keratin type II protein family of the wool fibre cortex. Whilst the over-expressed K2.10 transgene product constituted the majority of keratin type II IF protein, it appeared unable to form h...

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Authors
  1. C.S. Bawden
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  2. B.C. Powell
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  3. S.K. Walker
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  4. G.E. Rogers
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Bawden, C., Powell, B., Walker, S. et al. Expression of a Wool Intermediate Filament Keratin Transgene in Sheep Fibre Alters Structure. Transgenic Res 7, 273–287 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008830314386

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