Untersuchungen der Hydratation von Collagen

Sorptionsmessungen und Röntgenweitwinkeldiffraktion an Tropocollagen

Abstract

The amount of structurally sorbed water was determined for calf skin collagen by wide angle X-ray diffraction under defined water vapour pressures and by sorption measurements.

• The intensity of the helical 2,8 Å meridional reflex increases in a sigmoid curve up to a water content of 260 ± 40mg H₂O/g dry protein. Sorption of water in helical structures is completed at this water content, while the interfibrillar sorption continues up to 1,2 g H₂O/g dry protein (d values of the 10,6 Å equatorial reflex).
• Heat denaturation was found to decrease the water sorption capacity of tropocollagen. This finding points to a structure dependent water uptake.

Structural and kinetic data seem to indicate a two step sorption mechanism.