As you know, the fibrous protein collagen consists of a triple helix. Each helix

Question

As you know, the fibrous protein collagen consists of a triple helix. Each helix is a separate polypeptide chain and normally each helix is warapped around the other two. Although there are a variety of different vertebrae collagnes, the collagens found in reptiles and bird are very similar. Each polypeptide chain (i.e, each helix) consists of 976 amino acids. How many coils are there in a single polypeptide chain (one helix) of these vertebrate collagens? (Assume the alpha-helix of collagen is typical in its dimensions.)

Explanation / Answer

The structure of alpha helix is standard in nature and a standard alpha helix contains nearly 3.5 amino acid per turn. Further, each amino acid or each helical rise is nearly 1.5 angstrom in height. Thus, nearly 35 amino acids make up 10 turns which is nearly 15 angstrom in height.

According to the information, the collagen helix contains 976 amino acids. These amino acids will correspond to 15 * 976 / 35 or 418.3 angstrom in height, and will contain 10*976/35 or 279 turns.

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