Assessment of type I collagen fibrils assembled in vitro in the presence of glucosamines using atomic force microscopy.
Contributors: University of Toronto.  Dept. of Chemistry.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 101
Description: The effects of glucosamine 2-sulfate, glucosamine 6-phoshate, or chitosan, on the morphology of type I in vitro assembled collagen fibrils were investigated using contact mode AFM in air. Collagen and glucosamines---in the form of GAGs---are abundant components of ECMs; it is not clear how these interact. Glucosamine, chitosan and chondroitin are commonly used today as natural supplements promoting joint and tendon health. In vitro, chondroitins induce the formation of FLS collagen fibrils. FLS fibrils have been identified in many pathological situations, as well as in normal tissues. It is important to determine whether glucosamines or other polysaccharides---chitosan---potentially induce the formation of abnormal collagen fibrils. The results show that the presence of these glucosamines does not affect the fibril length, height or banding periodicity. Further, the results provide evidence that air dried type I collagen fibrils may not have a unique D-period equal to 64 nm; rather D-periods that are distributed around 64 nm.
Notes: Adviser:  M. Cynthia Goh.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0856.

MICR copy on microfiche (2 microfiches).