What is collagen protein?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, making up around 30% of the total protein content.
It is found in many parts of the body, including bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, skin, and organs.
Another major type of fibrous protein in humans, the collagen of connective tissues, is the most abundant of all proteins in higher vertebrates, making up one-third or more of the total body protein.
Collagen composition
According to healthpally, the larger and heavier the animal, the greater the fraction of its total proteins contributed by collagen.
It has been aptly said, for example, that a cow is largely held together by the collagen fibrils in its hide, tendons, bones, and other connective tissues.
Collagen fibrils are arranged in different ways, depending on the biological function of the particular type of connective tissue.
In tendons, collagen fibres are arranged in parallel bundles to yield structures of great strength but little or no capacity to stretch.
In the hide of the cow, the collagen fibrils form an interlacing network laid down in sheets.
The organic material of the cornea of the eye is almost pure collagen.
Whenever the arrangement of collagen fibrils in connective tissue, the fibrils always show a characteristic cross-striated appearance under the electron microscope, in which the repeat distance is between 60 and 70 nm, depending on the type of collagen and species of organism.
Collagen in water
Boiling in water converts collagen into gelatin, a mixture of polypeptides.
Although collagens of different species differ somewhat in amino acid sequence, most contain about 35 percent glycine and 11 percent alanine, resembling the ß-keratins in this respect.
Collagens are distinctive in containing about 12 percent proline and 9 percent hydroxyproline, and amino acid rarely found in proteins other than collagen.
Collagens also have distinctive x-rays diffraction patterns, different from those ∝ and ß-keratins. From comparisons of the x-ray patterns of collagen and of polyproline, it has been deduced that the secondary structure if collagen is that of a triple helix of polypeptide chains.
Each of the chains is a left-handed three-residue helix; the chains are held together by hydrogen bonds.
The frequent proline residues determine the distinctive type of helical arrangement of the chain, whereas the smaller R groups of the glycine residues, which occur in every third position, allow the chains to intertwine.
The complete amino acid sequence of the collagen chains is not yet known, chaktty said.
Health Benefits of collagen to our body
The benefits of collagen protein include:
Skin health:
Collagen helps to improve skin elasticity and hydration, which can lead to a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
Joint health:
Collagen plays a key role in maintaining the health of joints and cartilage. It can help to reduce joint pain and stiffness, and improve mobility.
Bone health:
Collagen is a major component of bone tissue and can help to improve bone strength and density.
Muscle growth and repair:
Collagen is important for muscle growth and repair, as it provides the necessary amino acids for muscle building and repair.
Gut health:
Collagen can help to improve gut health by supporting the integrity of the gut lining and reducing inflammation.
Hair and nail health:
Collagen can help to strengthen hair and nails, making them less prone to breakage.
Overall, collagen protein can provide many benefits for the body, including improved skin health, joint health, bone health, muscle growth and repair, gut health, and hair and nail health.
