394
petroleum on baleen plates. Recently, baleen has been reported as “an unusual
mammalian keratin in that it never air dries,” (Szewciw et al. 2010 ). Material properties of this keratinous biological material in natural environments determine effective fi lter feeding mechanisms used by whales. Structural properties of baleen in
different mysicetes including the infl uence of sediment abrasion are reported in
several papers (see for details in Kasuya and Rice 1970 ; Rice and Wolman 1971 ;
Nerini 1984 ).
Baleen, from human point of view, is elastic and robust wearing, features that
make it useful for practical applications as a construction material. Historically,
whaling industry was the source of baleen during centuries (Hunter 1787 ; Stevenson
1907 ; Lauffenburger 1993 ). “It found its height in the American market in the mid
1850s. It was used as an early form of plastic because of its ability to be bent and
when cooled, retain its shape. Therefore it was used for corset stays, buggy whips,
combs, brushes; and in native Alaskan culture, it was used extensively for making
baskets,” (Lauffenburger 1993 ). In the nineteenth century, baleen was processed and
sold in strips. At the peak of the baleen market, the amount of baleen harvested
could pay for an entire whaling voyage (Matthews 1968 ).
Baleen preserves relatively well over time in some archeological sites and museums. Forensic science on keratin-based biomaterials is well established (Brenner
et al. 1985 ; Kirkbride and Tungol 1999 ), however, there are no results regarding the
forensic investigation on baleen identifi cation.
11.4 Conclusion
The plasticity and network architecture of keratin IFs as well as their role in cell
survival are in focus of detailed investigations today (Windoffer et al. 2011 ). The
mechanical properties of epithelial cells are modulated by structural changes in
keratin intermediate fi lament networks (Leitner et al. 2012 ). Therefore keratins in
the form of IF, nanoorganized spongy structures (feather), or megascale constructs
like whale baleen can be investigated as biological materials. They are very successful from an evolutionary point of view, especially in vertebrates. The question why
chitin (the main structural biomaterial in all invertebrates) is changed to keratin in
vertebrates is still open.
References
Aebi U, Haner M, Engel A (1988) Unifying principles in intermediate fi lament (IF) structure and
assembly. Protoplasma 145:73–81
Alexander NJ (1970) Comparison of alpha and beta keratin in reptiles. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat
110(2):153–165
Alibardi L (2002) Immunocytochemical observations on the cornifi cation of soft and hard epidermis in the turtle Chrysemys picta . Zoology (Jena) 105:31–44
11 Marine Keratins
petroleum on baleen plates. Recently, baleen has been reported as “an unusual
mammalian keratin in that it never air dries,” (Szewciw et al. 2010 ). Material properties of this keratinous biological material in natural environments determine effective fi lter feeding mechanisms used by whales. Structural properties of baleen in
different mysicetes including the infl uence of sediment abrasion are reported in
several papers (see for details in Kasuya and Rice 1970 ; Rice and Wolman 1971 ;
Nerini 1984 ).
Baleen, from human point of view, is elastic and robust wearing, features that
make it useful for practical applications as a construction material. Historically,
whaling industry was the source of baleen during centuries (Hunter 1787 ; Stevenson
1907 ; Lauffenburger 1993 ). “It found its height in the American market in the mid
1850s. It was used as an early form of plastic because of its ability to be bent and
when cooled, retain its shape. Therefore it was used for corset stays, buggy whips,
combs, brushes; and in native Alaskan culture, it was used extensively for making
baskets,” (Lauffenburger 1993 ). In the nineteenth century, baleen was processed and
sold in strips. At the peak of the baleen market, the amount of baleen harvested
could pay for an entire whaling voyage (Matthews 1968 ).
Baleen preserves relatively well over time in some archeological sites and museums. Forensic science on keratin-based biomaterials is well established (Brenner
et al. 1985 ; Kirkbride and Tungol 1999 ), however, there are no results regarding the
forensic investigation on baleen identifi cation.
11.4 Conclusion
The plasticity and network architecture of keratin IFs as well as their role in cell
survival are in focus of detailed investigations today (Windoffer et al. 2011 ). The
mechanical properties of epithelial cells are modulated by structural changes in
keratin intermediate fi lament networks (Leitner et al. 2012 ). Therefore keratins in
the form of IF, nanoorganized spongy structures (feather), or megascale constructs
like whale baleen can be investigated as biological materials. They are very successful from an evolutionary point of view, especially in vertebrates. The question why
chitin (the main structural biomaterial in all invertebrates) is changed to keratin in
vertebrates is still open.
References
Aebi U, Haner M, Engel A (1988) Unifying principles in intermediate fi lament (IF) structure and
assembly. Protoplasma 145:73–81
Alexander NJ (1970) Comparison of alpha and beta keratin in reptiles. Z Zellforsch Mikrosk Anat
110(2):153–165
Alibardi L (2002) Immunocytochemical observations on the cornifi cation of soft and hard epidermis in the turtle Chrysemys picta . Zoology (Jena) 105:31–44
11 Marine Keratins