Keratin 26 (KRT26)

Keratin is the key structural material making up the outer layer of human skin. It is also the key structural component of hair and nails. Keratin monomers assemble into bundles to form intermediate filaments, which are tough and insoluble and form strong unmineralized tissues found in reptiles, birds, amphibians, and mammals.

KRT26is a member of the keratin superfamily. This keratin protein is a type I keratin that is specific for the inner root sheath of the hair follicle. This gene exists in a cluster with other keratin genes on chromosome 17q21. Strongly expressed in skin and scalp, and weak expression observed in thymus and tongue. In the hair follicle, expression is restricted to the mid- to upper inner root sheath cuticle, being present slightly above the apex of the dermal papilla (at protein level).