Carbonylation of Hair Proteins: A Robust Biomarker of Molecular and Structural Oxidative Damage in Hair Fibers

The study explores oxidative damage in hair proteins, emphasizing protein carbonylation as a sensitive biomarker for assessing molecular and structural damage. It reveals that carbonylation affects a significant portion of hair's amino acids (33%) and correlates with increased fragility and reduced strength. The research shows that chemical treatments like bleaching cause more damage than UV exposure, with protein carbonylation increasing more rapidly in blonde hair, highlighting melanin's protective role. The study finds an inverse relationship between carbonylation levels and denaturation temperature, indicating structural weakening. Overall, protein carbonylation is a more reliable indicator of oxidative damage than cysteic acid, providing insights into hair integrity and the effects of oxidative treatments.