Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026

In vitro Synthesis of Native, Fibrous Long Spacing and Segmental Long Spacing Collagen
Published on: September 20, 2012
pH-responsive collagen fibrillogenesis in confined droplets induced by vapour diffusion
Gloria Belén Ramírez-Rodríguez1, Michele Iafisco, Anna Tampieri
1Laboratorio de Estudios Cristalográficos, Instituto Andaluz de Ciencias de la Tierra (IACT, CSIC-UGR), Avda. de las Palmeras 4, 18100, Armilla (Granada), Spain.
Abstract:
A novel methodology for the assembly of collagen fibrils in microliter drops is proposed. It consists in the gradual increase of pH by means of vapour diffusion coming from the decomposition of NH4HCO3 solutions. The pH increase rate as well as the final steady pH of solutions containing collagen can be adjusted by varying the concentration of NH4HCO3. Both parameters are of predominant importance in collagen fibrillogenesis. The effect of these parameters on the kinetic of the fibrillogenesis process and on the fibrils morphology was studied. We found that both the kinetic and the morphology are mainly driven by electrostatic interactions. A gradual increase of pH slows down the formation of collagen fibres and favours the lateral interaction between fibrils producing broader fibres. On the other hand, a rapid increase of pH reduces the lateral electrostatic interactions favouring the formation of thinner fibres. The formation of the D-band periodicity is also a pH-dependent process that occurs after fibrillogenesis when the most stable state of fibres formation has been reached.
Related Concept Videos
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...
Clot Retraction and Fibrinolysis
Type IV Collagen of Basal Lamina
A type IV collagen molecule has six alpha chains which can...
Pinching-off of Coated Vesicles

