Isolated hair keratin genes and their use in hair growth active identification assays

摘要

The present invention relates to an isolated human hair specific keratin gene or fragment thereof, comprising a DNA sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:11; and a DNA sequence comprising DNA sequences SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:9 and SEQ ID NO:10. The present invention also relates to a method for detecting the level of hair specific keratin in a biological sample. The present invention further relates to a method of identifying hair growth regulating compounds and compositions comprising: a) treating a subject with a compound or composition of interest; b) isolating a sample of hair from the subject; and c) using a DNA sequence, or fragment thereof, which encodes hair specific keratin as a marker in a biological assay to detect an increase in the production of hair specific keratin in the hair sample.