The Intracellular Biosynthesis of Collagen

Abstract

The work performed in this laboratory in the last several years bears only indirectly on the subject of this symposium, but it probably provides a basic framework for biochemical approaches to the problems which occur in bone as a result of long-term dialysis. Collagen is the principal organic constituent of bone, and one of the questions we and others have asked is¹: How do cells in connective tissue synthesize collagen? Before discussing this question, however, I will present a brief review of the structure of the collagen molecule as it is known.^2-5 <h3>Structure of Collagen</h3> The collagen fibers in connective tissues are made up of small fibrils which have a characteristic pattern when examined by electron microscopy (Fig 1). The most characteristic feature of these fibrils is a series of major crossbands which are separated by a distance of approximately 700 Angstroms (A). As was demonstrated primarily