Keratin 6B Keratin 6B Keratin 6B is a type II cytokeratin, one of a number of isoforms of keratin 6. It is found with keratin 16 and/or keratin 17 in the hair follicles, the filiform papillae of the tongue and the epithelial lining of oral mucosa and esophagus. This keratin 6 isoform is thought be less abundant than the closely related keratin 6A protein. Mutations in the gene encoding this protein have been associated with pachyonychia congenita, an inherited disorder of the epithelial tissues in which this keratin is expressed, particularly leading to structural abnormalities of the nails, the epidermis of the
Alpha-keratin large variation in α-keratin structures found in mammals. α-keratin synthesis begins near focal adhesions on the cell membrane. There, the keratin filament precursors go through a process known as nucleation, where the keratin precursors of dimers and filaments elongate, fuse, and bundles together. As this synthesis is occurring, the keratin filament precursors are transported by actin fibers in the cell towards the nucleus. There, the alpha-keratin intermediate filaments will collect and form networks of structure dictated by the use of the keratin cell as the nucleus simultaneously degrades. However, if necessary, instead of continuing to grow, the keratin complex will