Substrates of human and bovine epidermal transglutaminase (glutaminyl-peptide gamma-glutamyltransferase, R-glutaminyl-peptide:amine-gamma-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.13) were isolated and purified by ion exchange chromatography and preparative zone electrophoresis. These substrates of Mr 36,000, which we propose to call keratolinin, incorporated dansylcadaverine and were precipitated by antibody. Keratolinin is ultimately polymerized on the inner leaflet of the keratinocyte membrane to form the cornified envelope. Each Mr 36,000 substrate was dissociated by chaotropic agents or detergents into noncovalent subunits; the Mr of these subunits was 6,000-6,200 on electrophoresis in 15% acrylamide/1% NaDodSO4/6 M urea gels. Isoelectric focusing of human or bovine keratolinin revealed two moieties separated by 0.3-0.4 pH unit (human, 5.4/5.0; bovine, 6.3/6.0). The two proteins were readily resolved by chromatofocusing and each isoelectric moiety of bovine keratolinin incorporated dansylcadaverine by epidermal transglutaminase and calcium and reacted with identity to antiserum to soluble Mr 36,000 keratolinin. Antiserum to human keratolinin failed to crossreact with its bovine counterpart. Antiserum to involucrin did not crossreact with either keratolinin or epidermis by immunodiffusion. Human and bovine epidermal keratolinins are biochemically similar but immunochemically distinct proteins from the epidermis. Involucrin appears only in significant quantities in cell culture.