title: Interaction of collagen with chlorosulphonated paraffin tanning agents: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis and molecular dynamics simulations.
abstract: The binding of chlorosulphonated paraffins to collagen triple helices is studied by means of classical molecular dynamics simulations and experimental spectroscopic techniques in order to disclose the principal characteristics of their interaction during the leather fattening process. Indeed, collagen is the main target to develop new leather modifying agents with specific characteristics, and an accurate design of the collagen binders, supported by predictive computational strategies, could be a successful tool to obtain new effective eco-compatible compounds able to impart to the leather the required functionalities and distinctive mechanical properties. Possible effects caused by the tanning agents on the collagen matrix have been identified from both experimental and theoretical points of view. Computational data in agreement with experiment have revealed that chlorosulphonated paraffins can interact favorably with the collagen residues having amine groups in their side chains (Arg, Lys, Asn and Gln) and reduce the tendency of the solvated collagen matrix to swell. However, the interference of chlorosulphonated paraffins with the unfolding process, which is operated mainly by the action of water, can be due both to covalent cross-linking of the collagen chains and intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions involving also the hydroxyl groups of Hyp, Ser and Thr residues.
authors.affiliation: CNR-Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds - UOS di Pisa, Area della Ricerca, via G. Moruzzi 1, I-56124 Pisa, Italy. sapeptides@gmail.com bramanti@pi.iccom.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Della Porta
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Onor
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: D'Ulivo
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Barone
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003094:Collagen / Q000737:chemistry*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D054879:Halogenation; D056004:Molecular Dynamics Simulation; D010232:Paraffin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011487:Protein Conformation; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013450:Sulfones / Q000737:chemistry; D013633:Tanning / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D013450:Sulfones; D010232:Paraffin; D003094:Collagen