The goal of this post is to accurately portray the concepts of collagen, one of the most important structural proteins found in your body.
Part 1.
1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid components in collagen?
Collagen is a protein made up of amino-acids: glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. The primary structure of a protein is its linear sequence of amino acids and the location of any disulfide (-S-S-) bridges.
2. What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not get enough vitamin C in his or her diet?
Vitamin C adds hydrogen and oxygen to amino acids, so that they may do their part in collagen production. If a person doesn’t receive the proper amount of vitamin C in their diet, collagen production will slow.
3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen.
Three polypeptide chains are wound together in a braid-like fashion, linked when a glycine fits into the helix. The other “gaps” are filled with proline and hydroxyproline, forming a triple helix.
Part 2.
1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta? What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?
The most common symptom of OI is the fracturing of bone easily. In addition to fractures, symptoms also include muscle weakness, hearing loss, brittle teeth, and short stature.
2. Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types? The collagen structure found in type 1 osteogenesis imperfecta is normal, while the structure of collagen in other forms of OI is improperly formed.
3. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?
Collagen help make the structure of bones, forming the “rods” that add strength. People with OI have weaker bones from improper formation or lack of collagen present in their bodies.
Sources:
http://www.oif.org/site/DocServer/Bone_Structure.pdf?docID=7186
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