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X-ray diffraction study of the mineralization of turkey leg tendon

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Abstract

X-ray diffraction studies were conducted on calcified turkey leg tendon to establish the effect of mineralization on some of the structural properties of collagen. The principal finding was that the first equatorial reflection of collagen in freshly-excised calcified tendon had a d-spacing intermediate between the values for dried collagen and fresh unmineralized collagen. Since this spacing is a sensitive monitor of moisture levels in collagen, the data suggest that mineralization reduces the amount of water than can associatein vivo with the collagen component in tissue. It was also found that the presence of mineral appears to increase the resistance of collagen to permanent thermal denaturation.

Résumé

Des études de diffraction aux rayons X sont réalisées au niveau du tendon calcifié de la patte de dinde pour déterminer l'effet de la minéralisation sur certaines propriétés structurales du collagène. Le résultat le plus important indique que la première raie équatoriale du collagène de tendon calcifié, fraichement prélevé, présente une équidistance intermédiaire entre les valeurs de collagène déssèché et du collagène frais non calcifié. Comme cette équidistance parait traduire fidèlement le degré d'humidité du collagène, il semble que la minéralisation réduit la quantité d'eau associéein vivo avec le composant collagènique du tissu. La présence du minéral semble augmenter la résistance du collagène à une dénaturation thermique permanente.

Zusammenfassung

Es wurden Röntendiffraktionsuntersuchungen an calcifizierten Truthahnbeinsehnen durch geführt, um die Wirkung der Mineralisation auf einige der strukturellen Eigenschaften von Collagen festzustellen. Die wichtigste Beobachtung war, daß die erste äquatoriale Reflexion von Collagen in frish herauspräparierten calcifizierten Sehnen einen d-Wert aufwies, der zwischen den Werten für trockenes Collagen und frisches, nicht mineralisiertes Collagen liegt. Da dieser d-Wert empfindlich auf den Feuchtigkeitsgrad des Collagens reagiert, lassen diese Resultate vermuten, daß die Mineralisation die Wassermenge reduziert, welche sich in vivo mit der Collagenkomponente im Gewebe verbinden kann. Es wurde auch beobachtet, daß die Anwesenheit von Mineral den Widerstand von Collagen gegen bleibende thermale Denaturierung heraufzusetzen scheint.

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Eanes, E.D., Lundy, D.R. & Martin, G.N. X-ray diffraction study of the mineralization of turkey leg tendon. Calc. Tis Res. 6, 239–248 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02196204

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