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Updated: Jan 27, 2026

Imaging Denatured Collagen Strands In vivo and Ex vivo via Photo-triggered Hybridization of Caged Collagen Mimetic Peptides
Published on: January 31, 2014
Hydrophobic Moieties Bestow Fast-Folding and Hyperstability on Collagen Triple Helices
Jasmine Egli1, Christiane Siebler1, Martin Köhler1
1Laboratory of Organic Chemistry , ETH Zurich , D-CHAB, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 3 , Zurich 8093 , Switzerland.
Abstract:
Trans amide bonds and fast cis- trans isomerization of Xaa-Pro bonds are crucial for the stability and folding rate of collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals. Here, we explored the effect of pendant hydrophobic moieties on the folding and stability of collagen triple helices. Kinetic studies with a series of collagen model peptides showed that a local hydrophobic environment accelerates cis- trans isomerization to an extent that thermally induced unfolding and folding of the collagen triple helix take place at the same speed. Thermal denaturation studies revealed that the hydrophobic appendages provide hyperstable collagen triple helices ( Tm = 70 °C).
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