Collagen, Research Paper Example

Collagen in Homo sapiens occurs as an abundant structural protein such that it accounts for about 75% of total dry weight of the skin. In terms of mass, it accounts for about 30% of the total body weight. The protein’s major function is to help in the structural build up of the muscles. It forms a very important and necessary component of the human connective tissues in the body. These tissues perform differently varied functions such as by providing a framework for organs such as lymph nodes and kidneys.

Connective tissues are important for the provision of support to human beings and enhancing support to structures like tendons and bones. The gene is in most aspects similar to a protein in rat that is usually up-regulated whenever the rat experiences a liver injury. The cancers of the skin have been linked to the mutation of the gene which is usually located in close proximity to the chromosomes’ gene cluster. The gene is a member of the family; plasma apoliproteins.

It was discovered after a comparison held by scientists between the human and mice genomes. It was note that the collagen had its physiological role solidified by the evidence as sourced from the characteristics of the hypertriglyceridemia as observed specifically in the knock out mice. The hypertriglyceridemia appeared as phenotypes of probands. The probands were noted to have loss of function mutations. They also were important association of genotypes such as SNP or haplotypes which contain concentrations of plasma triglyceride. The protein plays a uniquely important role in the whole process involving the hydrolysis of triglycerides that are rich in lipoproteins (Shawn, 2011). This is believed to be achieved as a result of active enhancement of the LPL activity. It is also, however, noted that its plasma concentrations are usually elevated in patients suffering from hypertriglyceridemia and this is contrary to the expectation since their concentrations are usually low as relatively compared to other apoliproteins. This has made scientists come to the conclusion that even though the protein is important in the metabolism of triglycerides in humans, it has to be studied and understood further in terms of the pathophysiological mechanistic roles it plays (Barter, 2006, 24).

Scientists once carried out the experiment to determine the functions and characteristics of the gene and its protein. This study involved about 791 men and women who had been subjected to treatment with fibrate for about three weeks. It should however be noted that the patients were not a representative faction of the real patients who would receive actual doses of fenofibrate treatment. In these sampled experimental patients the plasma concentration in terms of the triglycerides remained relatively normal. A three week follow up in considerably more urgent or quite earlier than what could be done in a real case as it would be otherwise advised by lipidologists. Lipidologists would term such a period to be so short for a repeat of the lipoprotein profile. This was however advantageous in as far as the objectives for the experiment were concerned since it was perceived that the subjects actually presented less metabolic variables in the study by being relatively healthy. They provided or are believed to have provided a purer or cleaner substrate so to speak for the detection of the differential associations with the plasma triglycerides. This was experimented across a characteristically very narrow range quantitatively (Shoulders, 2007, 49).

The findings of the experiment were used to analyze the impacts of the treatment to the various carriers in terms of their plasma triglycerides concentration. And the resultant impact of the HDL cholesterol. It was found out that in the fasting state the carriers of the gene experienced a significant decease in the concentration of the plasma triglycerides but they, on the other hand, experienced an increase in the concentration of HDL cholesterol. This was in response to the carriers having fenofibrate but was not experienced in non carriers. It was noted that the genotype specific differences seen in the postprandial responses were lost after the treatment by fenofibrate. It is suggested that fenofibrate acts through unknown mechanisms to independently reduce the concentrations of the triglycerides through process that involves mediating the exchange of either triglycerides and/or between the particles of both Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL) and High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). This therefore catalyzed the conclusion that both variables would function effectively in conditions under the reduction in fenofibrate mediated triglyceride levels. In a similar manner the level of cholesterol and triglyceride will be experienced or observed in both carriers and noncarriers (Shoulders, 2007, 48).

Human population in the experiment aforementioned suggested that hypertriglyceridemic and diabetic subjects had their collagen element levels increased. This was attributed to the contribution of the underlying and varied genetic determinants

Sources and composition of the protein

The collagen protein strands are composed of proteins that enhance the compatibility of the lipids with the aqueous medium or environment in the body. This compatibility is what ensures the protein is carried throughout the bodies of organisms such as vertebrates. The protein as indicate here above has been a subject of numerous experimental studies in researches aimed at understanding the magnitude of its effect on the human health. The protein is mainly synthesized in the intestines and liver and while undergoing the stated circulation throughout the body, the aggregates tend to remain in a constant-flux state which involves changing in both physical structure and the composition. This change is usually as a result of the peripherals tissues taking up the various specifically required components and leaving the remnants to return to the liver (Markwell, 1981, 15).

The lipids contained in the protein in abundance include, free cholesterol, phospholipids, triacyiglycerols and cholesterol esters. It is worth noting that in addition to the components stated above other substances such as anti-oxidants and vitamins also tend to be transported together with the protein. The protein in circulation is usually distinct from the other types of proteins such as the proteolipids which normally either contain fatty acids that are covalently linked or any other lipid compounds (Shawn, 2011).

The different methods of segregation that have been employed in the past to try and separate the various composition of the collagen have resulted into groups of other compounds. is classification is usually as a basis of the relative densities of the aggregates after ultracentrifugation.

Works Cited

Barter, Rye. “Cardio-protective properties of fibrates: Which fibrate, Which patients, What mechanism?” Circulation.; 113: 1553–1555. 2006. Print.

Markwell, Haas. “Protein determination in membrane: manual and automated procedures.” Methods Enzymol. 72:296-303. 1981. Print.

Shoulders, Mathew. Collagen Structure and Stability. 2007. Print.

Shawn, Hues. “Collagen – Structure of Collagen, Locations And Functions of Collagen, Examples Of Collagen In The Animal Kingdom,” retrieved on 11/23/11 from http://science.jrank.org/pages/1584/Collagen.html