Role of Nonkeratinous Proteins in Crimp Formation of Wool Fibers by Draft and Immediate Relaxation

The role of nonkeratinous proteins in the crimp formation of wool fibers by draft and immediate relaxation was investigated. For this purpose, Australian Shropshire wool fibers were treated with formic acid and pronase (proteolytic enzyme) to modify the nonkeratinous proteins. Formic acid is known to remove some of the intercellular cement, one of the nonkeratinous proteins, from the cell membrane complex, while pronase removes all nonkeratinous proteins. Little crimp formation occurred in the wool fibers treated with formic acid and pronase, indicating that the nonkeratinous proteins, especially the intercellular cement of the cell membrane complex, play an important role in the crimp formation of wool fibers by the draft and immediate relaxation process. A similar effect on crimp formation also occurred when the wool fibers were steamed in a relaxed state.