Collagen Structure and Function

1.    Describe the primary structure of collagen. What are the major amino acid components?

Answer: Collagen is composed of three chains, wound together in a tight triple helix. Every third amino acid is glycine, many of the remaining amino acids are proline or hydroxyproline.

  2.    What role does vitamin C play in collagen formation? What happens when a person does not get enough vitamin C in his or her diet?

Answer: Hydroxyproline, is critical for collagen stability.The reaction requires vitamin C to assist in the addition of oxygen. Vitamin C deficiency slows the production of hydroxyproline and stops the construction of new collagen, ultimately causing scurvy.

 3. Describe the quaternary structure of collagen (the way in which the polypeptide chains are arranged).

Answer:

Part 2.

1.    What is the main symptom of osteogenesis imperfecta?  What are some other symptoms that people with OI may have?

Answer: Fragile bones that break easily. Muscle weakness, hearing loss, fatigue, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta (brittle teeth), and short stature, Bleeding, easy bruising, frequent nosebleeds and in a small number of people heavy bleeding from injuries

   2.   Type I osteogenesis imperfecta causes fewer problems than the other forms. How does       the collagen structure in Type I OI differ from that of the other types?

Answer: The collagen structure in Type I OI is normal compared to the other types.

1.    Describe the role of collagen in bones. Why do collagen problems lead to bone problems?

Answer: Collagen in biones are to help support it. Collagen leads to bone problems because it can sometimes be kinked or broken and cause the body to malfunction.