Water distribution in human hair microstructure elucidated by spin contrast variation small-angle neutron scattering

Abstract

Dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) is effective for controlling the neutron scattering length of protons and can be utilized for contrast variation in small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Using the TEMPOL solution soaking method as electron spin doping, the DNP–SANS technique was applied to human hair fiber for the first time. For dry and D2O-swollen hair samples, a drastic change in the SANS profile was observed at high polarization conditions (|P H P N| ∼ 60%, where P H and P N are the proton and neutron spin polarization, respectively). The SANS profile as a function of the magnitude of the scattering vector, q, was composed of a low-q upturn, a middle-q oscillation and a high-q flat region. The low-q upturn was assumed to be a combination of two power-law functions, q −4 due to a large structure interface (Porod's law) and q −2 due to random coil. The middle-q oscillation was well reproduced by numerical calculation based on the structure model of intermediate filaments (IFs) as proposed by Er Rafik et al. [Biophys. J. (2004), 86, 3893–3904]: one pair of keratin coiled-coils is located at the center and surrounded by seven pairs of keratin coiled-coils located in a circle (called the `7 + 1' model), and a collection of IFs is arranged in a quasi-hexagonal manner. For the observed SANS profiles for different P H P N, the IF term contribution maintained a constant q-dependent profile, despite significant changes in intensity. This indicates that the macrofibril is composed of two domains (keratin coiled-coils and matrix). In addition, D2O swelling enhanced the IF term intensity and shifted the polarization-dependent local minimum to higher P H P N. This behavior was reproduced by contrast factor calculation based on the two-domain model. Scattering length densities of keratin coiled-coil and surrounding matrix domains were calculated by use of the known amino acid composition, considering the hydrogen–deuterium exchange reaction during soaking with D2O solution of TEMPOL. As a result, it was found that for keratin coiled-coil domains, about 40% of the peptide backbone amide NH protons were replaced with deuterons. This means that 68% of the α-helix domain is rigid, but the rest is flexible to allow dynamic dissociation of the hydrogen bond. Furthermore, the local mass density of each domain was precisely evaluated. The obtained data are expected to be a guide for further detailed investigation of keratin and keratin-associated protein distribution. This approach is expected to be applied to a wide variety of bio-derived materials, which are water absorbing in general.