title: Chromium(III)-induced structural changes and self-assembly of collagen.
abstract: Rat tail tendon (RTT) collagen has been reacted with a homologous series of chromium(III) complexes viz., (H2O)(4)Cr(OH)(2)Cr(H2O)(4+)(4) 1 (dimer), Cr(3)(OH)(4)(H2O)(5+)(9) 2 (trimer), and Cr(4)(OH)(4)(O2)(H2O)(4+)(12) 3 (tetramer), and the structural alterations brought about by these complexes have been investigated through atomic force microscopy (AFM) and circular dichroism (CD) studies. Examination of Cr(III)-treated tendons using AFM revealed changes in the D-periodicity of collagen, which may arise due to differences in the topological distribution of various Cr(III) complexes. Evidence for organisation of monomeric collagen into quarter staggered fibrils in the presence of Cr(III) dimer, 1, has been obtained. The quaternary structural changes induced by chromium in the protein have been correlated to the conformational changes of collagen in the absence of denaturation.
authors.affiliation: Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, Adyar, 600 020, India. ramarajaram@hushmail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gayatri
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajaram
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ramasami
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D011487:Protein Conformation / Q000187:drug effects; D011489:Protein Denaturation / Q000187:drug effects; D020836:Protein Structure, Quaternary / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D017608:Chromium Compounds; D003094:Collagen; D019342:Acetic Acid