[Optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of enzyme- and alkali-dissolved collagen]

Viscosity, dispersion of optical rotation and circular dichroism of collagen solutions was determined. Collagen solutions were obtained after treating collagen with enzymes--protorizine or prototerrizine, or with the mixture of 2,5 M NaOH--1 M Na2SO4 and acid-soluble collagen from calf skin. Molecules of "forcedly" solved collagen have an asymmetric shape with a conformation of a three-helical helix. After being heated the latter undergoes the transformation helix-coil similar to tropocollagen molecules.