The Chemical Composition of Wool X. Material Digested by Trypsin From Fibres and Cortical Cells

Abstract

Samples of wool, wool pretreated with formic acid, and cortical cells produced by mechanical agitation in formic acid have been digested by trypsin. The evidence shows that the formic acid treatment is not degradative. It is found by electron microscopy that trypsin digests the endocuticle, part of the cell membrane complex, and the nuclear remnants and intermacrofibrillar material of the. cortex. These digested components amount to about 3·6, 1· 8, and 12·6% by weight of the fibre respectively.