Example 2: Collagen (Fibrous Protein)

It is a insoluble fibrous protein found in skin, tendons, bones, teeth, and the walls of blood
vessels.
It is an important structural protein because it is flexible but has tremendous tensile strength.
- the achilles tendon can withstand the force of 300N per .

Structure:
- Primary Structure: The polypeptide chains in collagen every third amino acid is glycine.
Glycine is a very small amino acid and its size allows the polypeptide chains to lie next to
each other and form a tight coil.
- Secondary Structure: Each polypeptide chain is in a loose coil (not an -helix).
- Quaternary Structure: There are three polypeptide chains in collagen wound around each
other in a triple helix. The three polypeptide chains are held together by hydrogen bonds and
some covalent bonds.
- Each collagen molecules interacts with other collagen molecules lying parallel to them by
forming covalent bonds between their R groups. Together these collagen molecules form
fibrils.
To prevent a weak spot from running across the fibril, the parallel collagen molecules are
staggered.
- Together many collagen fibrils lie alongside each other to form fibres.
Collagen fibres line up according to the force they must withstand.
- In tendons, they line up along the tendon.
- In skin, they form many layers with the fibres going in different directions in different layers (to
withstand forces from many different directions).