Collagen is a member of a family of naturally occurring proteins. It is one of the most plentiful proteins present in mammals and it is responsible for performing a variety of important biological functions.
It is most well-known for the structural role it plays in the body. It is present in large quantities in connective tissue and provides tendons and ligaments with tensile strength and skin with elasticity. It often works in conjuction with other important proteins such as keratin and elastin.
Collagen synthesis begins specialized cells called fibroblasts . It is here that amino acids undergo activation; Proline is hydroxylated to Hydroxyproline and Lysine to Hydroxylysine.
Peptide subunits of 250 residues are assembled on the ribosome and are linked by carbohydrate residues to form α-chains. Three α-chains then associate with each other and then further associate extracelluarly forming a molecule with a molecular weight of 360,000.
Bonds are further strengthened thus forming the insoluble collagen fibril [1] [2]. During the process of collagen synthesis, free-hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine peptides appear as by-products, some of which are metabolized and may appear in urine
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