Matrix–Microfibril Texture in α-Keratin as observed by X-ray Diffraction and Electron Microscopy

摘要: THIN sections of keratin fibres can be “stained” by reaction with solutions the salts some heavy metals, notably silver and osmium. Electron microscopy shows a texture caused heavier staining matrix material surrounding microfibrils. Such treatments also effectively enhance small-angle equatorial X-ray diffraction, which has character scattering from an assembly roughly cylindrical holes (the microfibrils) in continuous comparatively large electron density. It consists peaks, E1, E2, E3, equivalent Bragg spacings d1 = 80 A, d2 42 d3 27 first may chiefly ascribed to inter-microfibrillar interference effects, other two diffraction fringes single microfibrillar hole1. The intensity ratio I2/I3 E2 E3 should theory approximately 4.2 : 1, this agrees well observed value most studied case staining2.