[Detection of vibron phenylalanine bands in circular dichroism spectra for collagen]

For the first time the individual positive circular dichroism peaks at 268 nm, 262 nm and 256 nm have been found for collagen. These peaks are due to the vibronic nature of a weak pi-pi* phenylic chromophore transition of phenylalanine and the unique structural organization of collagen where water molecules are an essential element of the triple helix.