Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Collagens

              About one quarter of all of the protein in your body is collagen. Collagen is a major structural protein, forming molecular cables that strengthen the tendons and large resilient sheets that support the skin and internal organs. Bones and teeth are made by adding mineral crystals to collagen. Collagen provides structure to our bodies, protecting and supporting the softer tissues and connecting them with the skeleton. But, even with its critical function in the body, collagen is a pretty simple protein. Collagen is a type of protein that is wound tightly together forming a triple helix bond. Each structure is over 1400 Amino acids.
             Vitamin C helps to stabilize the Collagen. It helps modify the regular promise amino acid by assist in the addition of oxygen. Without enough Vitamin C in your body you won't be able to make new Collagen which will cause scurvy. Scurvy causes you to loose teeth and bruise easily.
             In a Collagen their quaternary structure is very easy to see. To determine this you can look and see how many cables are joined together to form the collagen. A collagen has three cables braided together to form a Collagen.
           The main symptom of the genetic disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta is when you have weak bones . People with OI also often have muscle weakness, hearing loss, fatigue, joint laxity, curved bones, scoliosis, blue sclerae, dentinogenesis imperfecta (brittle teeth), and short stature. Restrictive pulmonary disease occurs in more severely affected people. This decease makes you more vulnerable to fractures and other injuries occurring with the bones. Type I Osteogenesis is the most common form. This is also the most mild form. It is caused by a defect in the parents genes which the child has a possibility of inheriting it.
            Collagens play a huge role in your bones. It is important to have a collagen for your bones that way they can get vitamin c. Collagen strengthens your bones and helps other bodily functions. It also keeps your muscles strong too. Collagen is a little molecule that makes a big difference in your body.