Collagen
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It is the protein which consists of major portion of white fibres in connective tissues of the animal body specifically, from the tendons, skin, bones, and teeth.
COLLAGEN
Synonym
Ossein.
Biological Source
It is the protein which consists of major portion of white
fibres in connective tissues of the animal body specifically, from the tendons,
skin, bones, and teeth.
Characteristics
The molecule of collagen is similar to three strand rope,
each strand consisting of polypeptide chain with molecular weight of 10,000.
These three strands are left-handed helices and are wrapped together in a
right-handed superhelix. The strands are held together by hydrogen bonds, which
give the molecule its strength.
Collagen fibres range from 10 to 100 μm in diameter and visible by microscope as banded structure
in the extra cellular matrix of connective tissues.
Chemical Constituents
Glycine and proline are the important amino acids in the
central core of the triple helical molecule of collagen. It can be
differentiated from other accompanying fibrous proteins like elastin and
reticulin. Elastin is highly crossed linked hydrophobic protein. Collagen is
characterized by the presence of glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and
hydroxylysine and low tyrosine and sulphur contents, whereas elastin contains
nonpolar amino acids like valine, isoleucine, and leucine. Various types of
collagen exist depending upon the amino-acid sequence. Collagen is converted to
gelatin by boiling with water.
Uses
It is used in the preparation of sutures, as a gel in food
casings and in photographic emulsions.
