Effect of anions on type I collagen fibrillogenesis in aqueous solution

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. Fibrillogenesis is one of important aspect of collagen. In vitro reconstitution of collagen fibrils is triggered simply by warming, neutralizing the pH, and increasing the ionic strength to physiological values. In this paper, effect of anions on collagen fibrillogenesis was investigated and optimal concentrations of different anions were determined. Addition of anions was helpful for increasing of collagen fibrillogenesis rate, but the fibrillogenesis level was decreased. In same ionic strength, ability of different anions were not in accordance with Hofmeister series, but decreased in the order (Cl^->;PO⁴_3->;NO₃^->;SO₄^2-). This result shows that structure of anions play a key role in interaction of collagen.