Knowra Collagen Collagen Collagen is a family of extracellular proteins built from three-chain helices. Its fibrils and networks give connective tissues tensile strength, structural support, and organization.
Tropocollagen : A collagen molecule formed from three polypeptide chains wound into a triple helix. This basic molecular unit packs into fibrils that give collagen tissues their strength.
Collagen biosynthesis : The cellular production and processing of collagen, from polypeptide synthesis to extracellular fibril assembly. This pathway explains how cells build collagen’s distinctive triple-helical molecules.
Osteogenesis imperfecta : A group of inherited disorders, usually caused by defects in type I collagen, that make bones unusually fragile. It shows how changes to collagen can compromise the strength of an entire tissue.
Elastin : An extracellular protein that lets tissues stretch and recoil. Elastin provides elasticity, whereas collagen primarily resists tensile deformation.
Glycine : The smallest amino acid, with a single hydrogen atom as its side chain. Its small size allows the tight packing required at every third position in collagen’s triple helix.
Prolyl hydroxylase : An enzyme that hydroxylates proline residues in proteins, including collagen precursors. Its activity helps stabilize collagen’s helix and depends on oxygen, iron, and vitamin C.
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes : A group of inherited connective-tissue disorders marked by features such as joint hypermobility and fragile skin. Several forms arise from defects in collagen or in proteins that process it.
Keratin : A family of fibrous proteins that forms tough structures such as hair, nails, and the outer skin layer. Keratin reinforces epithelial structures, while collagen supports connective tissues.
Hydroxyproline : A modified amino acid produced by hydroxylating proline residues in proteins. It stabilizes collagen’s triple helix through interactions that depend on its hydroxyl group.
Endoplasmic reticulum : A membrane-bound cell compartment where secreted and membrane proteins are synthesized and processed. Collagen chains fold and undergo key modifications here before secretion.
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