title: Effect of protein malnutrition on the crosslinking of dermal collagen in aging.
abstract: The effect of protein malnutrition on collagen crosslinking was studied in different age groups of rats. The percent of reversibility of neutral salt-soluble collagen gel and the susceptibility of insoluble collagen to denaturing agents and pronase decreased with aging. The electrophoretic pattern of neutral salt-soluble collagen on sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels showed a decrease of alpha 1 and alpha 2 subunits and an increase of beta-components, resulting in a decrease of alpha/beta ratio in aging. There was a significant decrease in the aldehyde content of neutral salt-soluble collagen during age. Protein deficiency was found to impair the crosslinking and the effect was greater in younger animals than in older ones.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D003094:Collagen