[Two possible mechanisms for forming supramolecular structures of the collagen type]

Comparative electron microscopic investigation of submolecular structure formation of native collagen molecules and denaturated collagen peptides in tropocollagen and gelatin gels was carried out. Submolecular terminal structures were similar. Fibrils exist with cross striation region of 64--70 nm. In spite of this the intermediate steps in the formation of both structures differ. In case of collagen the bundle of parallel microfibrils forms the thick fibrils. In case of gelatin the aggregates of spherical anisotropic particles form the fibrils of gelatin gels.