Abstract
SummaryThe soluble pigments produced when fat free nail keratin and tyrosine or tryptophan are boiled together with mineral acids differ from those produced when the keratin or amino acids are treated separately. The reaction involving tryptophan is enhanced by the simultaneous hydrolysis of keratin. Apparently keratin contributes some component (s) to the formation of pigment. The evidence favors the suggestion of Lee and Penrose that the red pigment obtained from human hair by the method of Arnow is not a natural pigment, but one produced from a colorless chromogen during the prolonged acid treatment. The pigment produced by the interaction of keratin and tryptophan in 6 N HO shows an absorption spectrum similar to that of the pigment trichosiderin, but contains no iron. The similarity of the absorption spectra suggests that the organic portion of the natural pigment may be derived in part from tryptophan.
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