Part 1.
Use your browser to go to http://www.rcsb.org. This site is a Protein Data Bank where you can search for any information about your favorite proteins, including everyone’s favorite, collagen.
Do a search at the very top of the page for collagen, then click on the Molecule of the Month: Collagen link to view the article on collagen.
Read the information and view the graphics. Use this information to answer the following questions:
1. Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid components in collagen?
The primary structure of collagen is Triple Helix. This collagen looks like three ropes or braids. Each chain is 1400 amino acids long. Every third amino acid is glycine, which is a small amino acid that fits perfectly inside the helix, and other parts of the helix are filled in by proline and hydroxyproline. Therefore the three major amino acid components in collagen are glycine, proline and hydroxyproline.
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?
Hydroxyproline is created by modifying normal proline. If you do not have vitamin C in your body this can not happen. Since our bodies do not create vitamin C, we have to make sure we have enough. If we do not have enough vitamin C in our body, the production of hydroxyproline is slowed and the contraction of collagen is stopped which then causes scurvy.
3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in which the polypeptide chains are arranged).
In type I collagen structure the collagens are arranged in triple helix order. Triple helix order is a rope-like structure. In type IV the structure has globular head with a tail coming off of it and when these come together, the tails go away from each other.
In type I collagen structure the collagens are arranged in triple helix order. Triple helix order is a rope-like structure. In type IV the structure has globular head with a tail coming off of it and when these come together, the tails go away from each other.
Part 2.
Use your browser to go to the Web site of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation at
On the left side of the home page, click the link “About OI”, then find the “Facts About OI” section.
Read the material in the sections entitled "Facts on Osteogenesis Imperfecta” and “Types of OI.” Use what you have learned to answer the following questions:
1. What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta? What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?
The nain symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta is having fragile bones that fracture and break very easily. Other symptoms are having muscle weakness, hearing loss, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, and having a short structure.
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 in Type 1 OI is different from the other collagen structures because the collagen structure is normal. With type 1 OI is there is nothing wrong with the structure of your collagen. The only thing that is really different is that you don't have an average amount, you have less. In a more serious case of type 1 OI, the collagen structure is not normal.
1. Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?
The role of collagen in bones is it is sort of the base and foundation of your bones. Collagen is a very important thing for your bones. Collagen makes your bones stronger because they have a frame or something to build on to. If you don't have enough collagen or something is wrong with your collagen, you have a better chance of breaking a bone or fracturing it because your bone is not as strong as it should be.
No comments:
Post a Comment