In the copper(II)-wool keratin complex and hydrogen peroxide system, we have studied the relation between the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide and the deg radation of wool keratin fiber. We measured the catalytic action of the copper(II)- wool keratin complex in hydrogen peroxide decomposition. The copper(II) ion has a great deal of catalytic activity, while the copper(II)-wool keratin complex exhibits less activity. The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide occurs with the degradation of wool keratin fiber, fragmenting the keratin molecule. The fragments experience a random coil-α-helix transition in ethanol-water mixtures with increasing ethanol component. This behavior is similar to that of charged polyamino acids, but the keratin fragments undergo a less sharp transition in comparison with charged polyamino acids.
References
1.
Bailey, C.J. , and Woods, H.J., Matrix-Mictofibril Texture in α-Keratin as Observed by X-Ray Diffraction and Electron Microscopy, Nature218, 765 (1968).
2.
Barteri, M., and Pispia, B., Influence of Isopropanol-Water Solvent Mixtures on the Conformation of Poly-L-lysine , Biopolymers12, 2309-2327 (1973 ).
3.
Bekturov, E.A. , Kudaibergenov, S.E., and Sigitov, V.B., Complexation of Amphoteric Copolymer of 2-Methyl-5-vinylpyridine-Acrylic Acid with Copper(II) Ions and Catalase-like Activity of Polyampholyte-metal Complexes, Polymer27, 1269-1272 (1986).
4.
Corbett, M.J. , and Yu, T.M., Orthocortical Staining of Wool with Chromic, Cobaltous, Cupric, Ferric or Manganous Ions in Acidic Nitrite Solution, Textile Res. J.34,655 (1964).
5.
Epand, R.F., and Scheraga, H.A., The Helix-Coil Transition of Poly-L-lysine in Methanol-Water Solvent Mixtures , Biopolymers6, 1383-1386 (1968 ).
6.
Fukatsu, K., Formation of Copper(II)-Wool Keratin Complexes, Textile Res. J.58, 91-96 (1988).
7.
Gröllmann, K. , and Schnabel, W., Free Radical-Induced Oxidative Degradation of Polyacrylamide in Aqueous Solution, Polym. Deg. Stab.4, 203-212 (1982).
8.
Hatano, M., and Nozawa, T., Structure andCatalytic Activity of Polymer-metal Complexes, Nippon Kagaku Zasshi92, 185-198 (1971).
9.
Hinton, Jr. , E. H., A Survey and Critique of the Literature on Crosslinking Agents and Mechanisms as Related to Wool Keratin, Textile Res. J.44, 233-292 (1974).
10.
Holzwarth, G., and Doty, P., TheUltraviolet Circular Dichroism of Polypeptides, J. Am. Chem. Soc.87,218-228(1965).
11.
Kantouch, A. , Bendak, A., and Sadek, M., Studies on Feltproofing of Wool with a Copper Sulfate-Hydrogen Peroxide System, Textile Res. J.48, 523-528 (1978).
12.
Kokot, S., and Feughelman, M., AnElectron Spin Resonance Study of the Copper( II ) Interaction with Wool-Keratin, Part I: An Interaction and the Properties of a Copper(II)/Wool ESR Spectrum, Textile Res. J.42, 704-708(1972).
13.
Kokot, S., and Feughelman, M., AnElectron Spin Resonance Study of the Copper( II ) Interaction with Wool Keratin, Part II: The Nature of the Copper(II) Interaction with Wool Keratin, Textile Res. J.43, 146-153 (1973).
14.
Laurie, S.H. :, Uptake of Metal Complexes by Wool and Their Effects, Part I: Uptake of Zirconium from Aqueous Sulfate Solutions, Textile Res. J.36, 476-480 (1966).
15.
Ramsden, D.K. , and McKay, K., Degradation of Polyacrylamide in Aqueous Solution Induced by Chemically Generated Hydroxyl Radicals, Part I: Fenton's Reagent, Polym. Deg. Stab.14, 217-229 (1986).
16.
Shirai, H., Maruyama, A., Kobayashi, K., Hojo, N., and Urushido, K., Synthesis and Catalaselike Activity of Polystyrene-Bonded Fe(II)-Phthalocyanine, J. Polym. Sci. Lett. Ed.17, 661-666 (1979).
17.
Shirai, H., Nio, Y., Kurose, A., Hayashi, S., and Hojo, N., Formation of Cu(II) and Fe(II)-Poly(vinyl alcohol) Mixed Complexes and Their Catalytic Activities for Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide, Nippon Kagaku Kaishi1, 117-123 (1978).
18.
Whewell, C.S. , Ashworth, J., Srinivassan, V.R., and Vassiliadis , A.G.P., TheAction of Copper Amines on Wool, Textile Res. J.29, 386-393 (1959).
19.
Wolff, S.P. , and Dean, R.T., Fragmentation of Proteins by Free Radicals and Its Effect on Their Susceptibility to Enzymic Hydrolysis, Biochem. J.234, 399-403 (1986).
20.
Yamamoto, H. , Inouye, K., and Hayakawa, T., Catalytic Actions of Synthetic Polypeptides: 1. Decomposition of Hydrogen Peroxide by the Poly(L-glutamic acid)-Copper( II ) Complexes, Int. J. Biol. Macromol.2, 263-265 (1980).
21.
Yamamoto, H. , and Yang, J.T., The Thermal Induced Helix-β Transition of Poly(Ne-Methyl-L-Lysine) and Poly(Nδ-Ethyl-L-Ornithine) in Aqueous Solution, Biopolymers13, 1109-1116 (1974 ).
