Wool yarns were treated in dimethylformamide solutions containing various concentrations of three dibasic acid anhydrides : succinic, itaconic, and phthalic anhydrides in various conditions. The structural aspects of these dibasic acid anhydrides are different : the succinic, itaconic, and phthalic acid anhydrides have saturated aliphatic etylene, unsaturated aliphatic vinyl and aromatic phenyl groups, respectively. The reaction mechanism of the acylation of wool keratin and some resction conditions were invastigated. And the results are as follows. 1. The N-acylation and formation of free carboxyl group were dominant rather than the O-acylation cross-linked on the side chain of polypeptide. The acylation of wool keratin is easier than that of silk fibroin. 2. The higher molecular weight, steric hinderance and resonance caused lower acylating reactivity. By the determination of acyl contents for acylated keratin, it was rerealed that the degree of acylation was succinic acid anhydride > itaconic acid anhhydride > phthalic acid anhydride.