BRAINCAKECollagen
Collagen is the most abundant protein in mammals. It is a fibrous protein that gives tensile strength to tendons, ligaments, skin, cartilage, bone and the walls of arteries.
Structure of one molecule. A collagen molecule is made of three polypeptide chains, each about 1000 amino acids long. Each chain is a tight helix, and the three chains are wound around each other to form a triple helix, like a rope.
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Key terms in this lesson
- tensile strength
- The ability of a material to withstand a pulling or stretching force without breaking.
More in Biological Molecules
- Amino-acids
- Hydrogen Bonding
- Disulfide Bridges
- Ionic Bonds
- Protein Structure
- Globular Proteins
- Fibrous Proteins
- Conjugated Proteins
All 25 lessons in Biological Molecules · All Edexcel AS-level Biology topics