The Binding of Polyamines to Wool

Abstract

The irreversible binding of 14C radiolabelled polyamines to wool, under conditions comparable to that used in shrink-resist treatments, has been demonstrated. An estimate of the relative levels of ionically and covalently bound polyamine has also been made. Analysis of the hydrolyzed treated wool revealed a complex mixture of radiolabelled products with no single product predominating. Comparative studies with silk, lysozyme, and acetyldehydroalanine support the hypothesis that the reaction is mainly confined to addition to dehydroalanine residues, arising from cystine or serine residues. No evidence for transamination of asparagine or glutamine residues could be found.