Molecular evolution of the keratin associated protein gene family in mammals, role in the evolution of mammalian hair

Background: Hair is unique to mammals. Keratin associated proteins (KRTAPs), which contain two major groups: high/ultrahigh cysteine and high glycine-tyrosine, are one of the major components of hair and play essential roles in the formation of rigid and

We are grateful to the invaluable suggestions and help with the classification of genes from Dr. Michael A. Rogers at the Section of Normal and Neoplastic Epidermal Differentiation, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany, and the kind help of