The structure and assembly of collagen fibrils*: I. Native‐collagen fibrils and their formation from tropocollagen

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Abstract
SYNOPSIS: Hypotheses to explain the formation of native‐collagen fibrils from tropocollagen macromolecules have been considered and their inconsistencies examined. A new model for the tropocollagen macromolecule is suggested and a new mechanism for its assembly into native‐collagen fibrils is offered. It is postulated that the tropocollagen macromolecule is divided into 5 main bonding zones separated by 4 main non‐bonding zones. The macromolecules are assembled into native fibrils by allowing a main bonding zone on a particular macromolecule an initial random choice in combining, in a structurally complementary manner, with a main bonding zone on another macromolecule. The evidence for the proposals arises from the use of negative‐staining techniques and high‐resolution electron microscopy.The work described includes a more detailed discussion of some preliminary findings reported earlier (Grant, Home, & Cox, 1965b).

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