FIBRIL FORMATION IN COLLAGEN

While simple aggregation in solution typically leads to ramified objec ts, some polymers and proteins form filamentous structures. The aggreg ation of collagen, a structural protein, from monomers to fibrils was studied by light scattering and atomic force microscopy. The presence of clear, stable intermediates indicates that the assembly proceeds in a modular or hierarchical fashion. Temperature and concentration depe ndence studies show that the detailed assembly mechanism may change un der different conditions.