Has a role in hair formation. Specific component of keratin intermediate filaments in the inner root sheath (IRS) of the hair follicle (Probable).
Highly expressed in hair follicles from scalp. In hair, it is specifically present in the inner root sheath (IRS) of the hair follicle. Present in the IRS Huxley layer, but not in Henle layer or cuticle of the IRS. In the IRS Huxley layer, it is expressed in specialized Huxley cells, termed 'Fluegelzellen, along the area of differentiated Henle cells (at protein level).