Degradation of bovine corneal collagen by alkali

This study was undertaken to demonstrate the effect of alkali on the molecular size of collagen. Type I and V collagen from bovine cornea were incubated with different concentrations of NaOH at room temperature and 37 degrees C for various times. The samples were then neutralized and analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Degradation of collagen molecules to a heterogeneous mixture of peptides with molecular weights less than 20,000 daltons occurred at concentrations greater than 0.25N, and the effect of alkali was much faster at 37 degrees C than at room temperature. In contrast, the molecular size of collagen was not affected by similar concentrations of HCl under similar conditions of time and temperature.