TLDR Hair follicle keratin may have been used in tooth enamel evolution.
The document proposed a hypothesis that hair follicle keratins, particularly Keratin 75 (KRT75), were co-opted into amelogenesis, aiding the evolution of prismatic enamel in mammals. KRT75 was found in ameloblasts and the mature enamel matrix, with mutations linked to altered enamel structure and increased caries risk. The study addressed the evolutionary mystery of KRT75's presence in teeth, despite its primary expression in hair follicles, suggesting its integration into enamel formation during the evolution of Tomes' process. The exact role of KRT75 in enamel was unclear, prompting further research into this hypothesis.
9 citations
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September 2014 in “British journal of dermatology/British journal of dermatology, Supplement” Pseudofolliculitis cutis causes painful skin bumps and needs proper shaving and treatments to manage.
42 citations
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January 2014 in “BMC Genomics” Cetaceans lost hair genes to adapt to water.
160 citations
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January 2014 in “Seminars in cell & developmental biology” Early development of hair, teeth, and glands involves specific signaling pathways and cellular interactions.
19 citations
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March 2013 in “Biology Letters” Early tetrapod keratins evolved into toe pad proteins in amphibians and hair proteins in mammals.
99 citations
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July 2012 in “PLoS Genetics” A mutation in the KRT75 gene causes frizzle feathers in chickens.
115 citations
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November 2008 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” Reptiles have genes similar to hair proteins, suggesting hair's genetic origins predate mammals.
139 citations
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December 1998 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology” K6hf is a unique protein found only in a specific layer of hair follicles.
