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Biophys. J. BioFAST: First Published October 6, 2006. doi:10.1529/biophysj.106.085704
© 2006 by the Biophysical Society.

A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2007.
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BIOPHYSICAL LETTERS

Collagen fibrils: nanoscale ropes

Laurent Bozec 1*, Gert van der Heijden 1 and Michael Horton 1

1 University College London

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: l.bozec{at}ucl.ac.uk.

Submitted on March 27, 2006
Revised on May 21, 2006
Accepted on 18 September 2006


  Abstract
The formation of collagen fibrils from staggered repeats of individual molecules has become 'accepted' wisdom. However for over thirty years now, such a model has failed to resolve several structural and functional questions. In a novel approach, it was found, using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), that tendon collagen fibrils are comprised of a spiral disposition of subcomponents - that is, they are similar to macroscale 'ropes'. Consequently, this arrangement was modelled and confirmed using elastic rod theory. This work provides a new insight into collagen fibril structure and will have wide application - from the design of scaffolds for tissue engineering and a better understanding of pathogenesis of diseases of bone and tendon, to the conservation of irreplaceable parchment-based museum exhibits.

Key Words: Atomic force microscopy, D-banding, collagen, elastic rod modelling




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M. P. E. Wenger, L. Bozec, M. A. Horton, and P. Mesquida
Mechanical Properties of Collagen Fibrils
Biophys. J., August 15, 2007; 93(4): 1255 - 1263.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 2006 by the Biophysical Society.