Collagen constitutes about 12% in females and 17% in males of the total protein in mice

ABSTRACT: Collagen has been postulated to be the most abundant protein in our body, making up one-third of the total protein content in mammals. However, a direct assessment of the total collagen levels of an entire mammal to confirm this estimate is missing. Here we measured hydroxyproline levels as a proxy for collagen content together with total protein levels of entire mice or of individual tissues. Collagen content normalized to the total protein is approximately 0.1% in the brain and liver, 1% in the heart and kidney, 4% in the muscle and lung, 6% in the colon, 20–40% in the skin, 25–35% in bones, and 40–50% in tendons of wild-type (CD1 and CB57BL/6) mice, consistent with previous reports. To our surprise, we find that collagen is approximately 12% in females and 17% in males of the total prot

SUBMITTER: Tarnutzer K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10024738 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature