Tendons mammalian

Collagen, the principal fibrous protein in mammalian tissue, has a tertiary structure made up of twisted a-helices. Three polypeptide chains, each of which is a left-handed helix, are twisted into a right-handed super helix to form an extremely strong tertiary structure. It has remarkable tensile strength, which makes it important in the structure of bones, tendons, teeth, and cartilage. 

Gelatin is a protein, made from the hydrolysis of collagen, a protein that makes up about a third of all mammalian tissue. Collagen is a key component of connective tissues, tendons, and bones. 

The size and arrangement of the collagen fibrils vary considerably from tissue to tissue, the diameter ranging from 10 to 300 nm and the packing from being apparently random, as in mammalian skin, to being in strict parallel bundles, as in tendon. 

Mammalian tendons are readily available and provide the best degree of fibrillar orientation. Patterns obtained from them (Figs. 3 and 7) permit observation of the maximum number of diffractions. Instead of tracing the historical development of the subject, this discussion is based on data obtained from the best patterns available to the author. Table IV shows the average measurements for the positions of individual spot... 

Collagens from various sources can be dispersed in differing degrees. Leplat (136) examined different animal tendons, emplo3dng formic, propionic, citric and even hydrochloric acids for their partial solution. Faur Fremiet and Baudouy (71) found ichthyocol completely soluble in 0.0004 N formic acid and formamide, the latter also dispersing mammalian tendons partially. Salo (184) has reported molecular shapes and sizes, similar to those of Scatchard et al. for parent gelatin, from viscosity studies of ichthyocol dispersed in warm dilute acetic acid solutions containing some salt. 

FUNCTIONS An extracellular protein, which is resfwnsible for the strength and flexibility of connective tissue. Accounts for 25-30% of the protein in an animal. Major component in all mammalian tissues including skin, bone cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. ... 

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