Role of aldehydes in collagen fibrillogenesis <i>in vitro</i>

Abstract

Abstract The process of in vitro fibrillogenesis of type I collagen from bovine tendon has been studied with particular attention to the events occurring in the lag phase. From the conditions under which those events can be reversed or stabilized and from the effects of reduction on the length of the lag phase, we conclude that one event is the reaction of aldehydes on the molecules. However, we have been unable to detect the products of these reactions or any physical changes in the solution, so the change most probably involves the inter‐ or intramolecular reaction of a very small fraction of the molecules. In particular, the viscosity appears unchanged in solutions in which nucleation‐promoting structures have been stabilized, and so measurable numbers of polymers are not formed in this process.