Investigation of Some Amino Acid Analogues and Metabolites as Inhibitors of Wool and Hair Growth

    PJ Reis, DA Tunks, R. D. G. Rigby, TC Morton, SG Munro
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    TLDR Certain amino acid analogues can inhibit wool and hair growth and affect fiber strength.
    The study investigated the effects of various amino acid analogues and metabolites on wool and hair growth in sheep and mice. Cycloleucine prevented ethionine-induced weakening of wool fibers but reduced glutathione did not. Cycloleucine alone weakened wool fibers and slightly reduced their diameter. Selenocystine and selenomethionine caused hair loss in mice but were toxic to sheep, with lethal doses identified. Other compounds did not induce wool or hair loss. Methoxinine significantly reduced wool fiber strength and altered crimp patterns. The findings suggested that cycloleucine might inhibit methionine adenosyltransferase, reducing S-adenosylethionine formation, and that ethionine's impact on wool growth was likely mediated through S-adenosylethionine.
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