Sturdy fibers of collagen give construction to our our bodies
A small portion of collagen, coloured by atom (left) and coloured to focus on the three chains (proper). Obtain prime quality TIFF picture
Your Most Plentiful Protein
About one quarter of all the protein in your physique is collagen. Collagen is a significant structural protein, forming molecular cables that strengthen the tendons and resilient sheets that help the pores and skin and inside organs. Bones and enamel are made by including mineral crystals to collagen. Collagen gives construction to our our bodies, defending and supporting the softer tissues and connecting them with the skeleton. However, despite its vital perform within the physique, collagen is a comparatively easy protein.
The Collagen Triple Helix
Collagen consists of three chains, wound collectively in a decent triple helix. The illustration included right here reveals solely a small phase of all the molecule–each chain is over 1400 amino acids lengthy and solely about 20 are proven right here. A repeated sequence of three amino acids varieties this sturdy construction. Each third amino acid is glycine, a small amino acid that matches completely contained in the helix. Lots of the remaining positions within the chain are crammed by two sudden amino acids: proline and a modified model of proline, hydroxyproline. We would not anticipate proline to be this frequent, as a result of it varieties a kink within the polypeptide chain that’s tough to accommodate in typical globular proteins. However, as you possibly can see within the examples beneath, it appears to be simply the appropriate form for this structural protein.
Vitamin C
Hydroxyproline, which is vital for collagen stability, is created by modifying regular proline amino acids after the collagen chain is constructed. The response requires vitamin C to help within the addition of oxygen. Sadly, we can not make vitamin C inside our our bodies, and if we do not get sufficient in our weight-reduction plan, the outcomes may be disastrous. Vitamin C deficiency slows the manufacturing of hydroxyproline and stops the development of recent collagen, in the end inflicting scurvy. The signs of scurvy–loss of enamel and straightforward bruising–are attributable to the shortage of collagen to restore the wear-and-tear attributable to on a regular basis actions.
Collagen on the Grocery Shelf
Collagen from livestock animals is a well-known ingredient for cooking. Like most proteins, when collagen is heated, it loses all of its construction. The triple helix unwinds and the chains separate. Then, when this denatured mass of tangled chains cools down, it soaks up all the surrounding water like a sponge, forming gelatin.