Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Long-spacing Segments from Renatured α1 Sub-units of Collagen

Nature volume 208, page 685 (1965)Cite this article

Abstract

THE mammalian collagen molecule is thought to be composed of two α1 and one α2 peptide chains. Alpha 1 and α2 have approximately the same molecular weight but differ in their amino-acid composition1. A mixture of α1 and α2 in the ratio of 2:1 (produced by the denaturation of neutral salt-soluble rat skin collagen) re-forms, under certain conditions suitable for renaturation, as much as 50 per cent of the rod-like collagen molecules2. It is of interest to learn whether the triple helix of the collagen molecule can also be formed from three al chains. Recently, Piez and Carrillo3 have investigated the renaturation of the isolated sub-units (α1, α2, and β12) of collagen at 15°. According to our experience these conditions are not optimal for the formation of the triple helix4.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Piez, K. A., Eigner, E. A., and Lewis, M. S., Biochemistry, 2, 58 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kühn, K., and Zimmermann, B., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 109, 534 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Piez, K. A., and Carrillo, A. L., Biochemistry, 3, 908 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kühn, K., Engel, J., Zimmermann, B., and Grassmann, W., Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 105, 387 (1964). Beier, G., Engel, J., and Grassmann, W., Biophysiker-Tagung Wien, 14-16.9.1964, Tagungsbericht, p. 101.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Hippel, P. H. v., and Wong, K. Y., Biochemistry, 2, 1399 (1963).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Hodge, A. J., Proc. U.S. Nat. Acad. Sci., 51, 871 (1964).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Planck-Institut für Eiweiss- und Lederforschung, Munich, Germany

    KLAUS KÜHN, CHRISTIAN TKOCZ, BODO ZIMMERMANN & GUNDOLF BEIER

Authors
  1. KLAUS KÜHN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  2. CHRISTIAN TKOCZ
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  3. BODO ZIMMERMANN
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

  4. GUNDOLF BEIER
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

KÜHN, K., TKOCZ, C., ZIMMERMANN, B. et al. Long-spacing Segments from Renatured α1 Sub-units of Collagen. Nature 208, 685 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/208685a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/208685a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing