Task#1: Collagen
Abstracts – SMART Team Submissions
Simply Collagen: Exploring the Structure
Afroilan, Hazel, Daniel Folks, Carlyn Gabor, Jennilyn Gabor, Russell Higgs,
Judd, Rika, Camille Walker, dayna wilhelm SMART-team, Henry E. Lackey High School, Indian Head MD
Collagen is a simple structural protein that strengthens the tendons, protects the skin and bones, and repairs the damage that is inflicted on the body on a daily basis. The basic structure of collagen consists of three amino acid chains wrapped around each other including glycine, proline and hydroxyproline as the major amino acids. Vitamin C plays a role in the production of new collagen because it converts proline to hydroxyproline. Multiple collagen molecules can interact in different ways to form Type I and Type IV collagens. Type I collagen contains a triple helix of three molecules of collagen. These molecules are side by side to form fibrils that crisscross between the cells in the body strengthening the cellular matrix. In contrast, Type IV collagen joins two collagen molecules head to head that connects with four tails making a cross shaped network used to form a dense sheet called the basement membrane of organs. Although collagen is a simple protein, it plays an important role in cellular structure.
Comprising a quarter of the proteins in the human body, collagen is
integral in the regeneration and structure of internal organs, teeth, and skin.
It also enables cellular movement during development. In addition, collagen is
commonly used in the preparation of different foods such as gelatin.
Structurally, collagen, a tight triple helix in which every third amino acid is glycine, has a
unique amino acid sequence that provides structural stability. Ideally,
collagen contains a pure mixture of the
amino acids glycine and proline,
but another frequently present amino acid is hydroxyproline. The reaction that creates hydroxyproline from proline
requires vitamin C, an essential component in the formation of collagen. Several types of collagen exist: type I
collagen associates side-by-side crisscrossing between almost all human cells,
while type IV binds head-to-head, forming an X-shaped complex. From repairing
every-day damage to preventing tooth loss, collagen is an omnipresent protein
in human life.
Good Ole Orange Juice
A. Carpenter, A. De la Cruz,
T. Fisher, M. Frink, T. Jones, A. Lynch, Z. Reguieg, D. Scruggs
Have you ever wondered why it’s important for you to drink orange juice?
The
Vitamin C contained in orange juice is necessary in making collagen. Collagen
is a protein used for structural support.
Though Vitamin C is essential in collagen production our bodies cannot
produce Vitamin C. The lack of collagen production causes scurvy, which is a
disease that results in the lose of teeth, bleeding
gums, opening of healed scars and non-stop diarrhea. Therefore, drinking orange
juice is necessary in preventing scurvy and producing collagen.
Collagen connects soft tissues to bones, strengthens tendons, and is
important for skin elasticity. It is composed of three chains that are wound
together in a tight triple helix. Each chain is made up of the three amino
acids, glycine, proline and
hydroxyproline. Vitamin C helps in adding the oxygen
molecule to the amino acid proline forming hydroxyproline. Hydroxyproline adds stability to collagen by allowing it to
bend, forming the helix. Without this helical structure collagen would be
easily broken down or not produced at all.
References
Goodsell, David (April 2000). Collagen. Retrieved
October 14, 2008 from http://www.pdb.org/pdb/static.do?p=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb4_1.html
wisegeek.com/what-is-collagen.htm
www.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia
Collagen is an abundant protein that
is almost necessary for our lives.
Collagen consists of sets of three amino acids, one of which is always a
glycine; the others are usually prolines
or hydroxyprolines. Collagen is constructed in a
triple helix, which helps to give it incredible strength. It uses this strength to construct useful structures
such as teeth, skin, and support for organs.
Hydroxyproline is made through a reaction that
requires vitamin C, which our bodies cannot make themselves. This is why such diseases as scurvy have
tooth loss as a symptom. Without
collagen, we wouldn’t be able to function, our bones would be weak and our
organs would have no structural support; we would bruise easily and would be
extremely vulnerable to physical damage, which would make everyday life an
almost impossible challenge.
Patterson Mill High School
Collagen
We need
collagen! Collagen is a protein and our
bodies depend on it to provide structure for cells, tissues and organs. This important, but simply designed, protein
accounts for 25% of all the proteins our bodies need. The design of this protein is just three
amino acid chains. The amino acids are glycine, proline and a modified
version of proline called hydroxyproline. These three chains are tightly wound into a
triple helix with the amino acid glycine in the
center of the twist.
The hydroxyproline amino acid is of particular importance to
our bodies. It is created from proline by adding oxygen.
Vitamin C is required for this transformation to occur. This is one reason why vitamin C is important
in our diet. If our bodies are deficient
in vitamin C, we develop scurvy because there is not enough new collagen to
replace any that is lost.
The
fact that glycine fits into the center of the triple
helix is also important. It forms the bend inside the helix that allows
the proline and hydroxyproline
to wrap around it. This adds strength to
the protein. We are lucky that our
bodies make many different types of collagen.