# BIOSYNTHESIS OF KERATIN--BIOSYNTHETIC STUDIES

> **NIH NIH R01** · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · 1989 · $245,763

## Abstract

The major objective of this study is to develop a comprehensive understanding of
the keratinization process in order to more fully understand the numerous
disorders which involve epidermis, hair and nail.  Since the fibrous proteins
play a major role emphasis will be placed on them, but other important
structural components, keratohyalin and cornified cell envelope, will also be
investigated.  These studies will be done in whole tissue as well as in cultured
epidermal cells with the aim of using epidermal cell culture to study the
metabolic disturbances in a number of disorders of keratinization including
psoriasis and several types of ichthyosis.  Epidermal cell culture will be used
to study mechanism of disease and the effect of various hormones and chemicals
on normal epidermal cells as well as diseased cells.  This will include basal
cell carcinoma.

The epidermal enzyme which converts peptide bound argininge to peptide bound
citruline will be purified and characterized and the natural substrates will be
identified.
The precursors of the cornified envelope of human keratinocytes will be
identified in cultured cells and whole tissue by use of labelled probes as well
as immunologic techniques.
The procursors of keratohyalin granules in cultured rat epidermis will be
identified by labelled histidine incorporation and immunologic techniques.

The factors influencing the composition of fibrous proteins will be
investigated.
We shall ccntinue our studies of inherited disorders of keratinization so that
patient material will be available for laboratory study.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3154663
- **Project number:** 5R01AR006838-27
- **Recipient organization:** MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** FLJ7DQKLL226
- **Principal Investigator:** HOWARD P BADEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1989
- **Award amount:** $245,763
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-01-01 → 1990-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3154663

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3154663, BIOSYNTHESIS OF KERATIN--BIOSYNTHETIC STUDIES (5R01AR006838-27). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3154663. Licensed CC0.

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