Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix
Published on: June 12, 2015
A model for biased diffusion of collagenase along collagen fibrils
Jun Qian1, Ping Xie, Shuo-Xing Dou
1Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics, Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China.
Abstract:
We present a model to describe the biased diffusion of a collagenase along collagen fibrils. Based on the structures of collagen fibril and collagenase, the interaction is described by a one-dimensional potential that is symmetric in the region of no cleavage and asymmetric in the cleavage region. We show that the mean velocity of the unidirectional diffusion of the collagenase depends on the three parameters: the asymmetric ratio of the local potential in the cleavage region, the chemical reaction rate of proteolysis and the jumping rate of collagenase between two neighboring tracks. We calculate the correlation function and the mean transport velocity for both wild-type and mutant collagenases along collagen fibrils, the results of which are consistent with the previous experiments.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane
Fibril-associated Collagen
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
Structural Protein Function
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity. In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to form...
Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can exist in...

