A dermatology researcher is studying the role of different amino acids in wound healing. She cultures mature dermal fibroblasts in growth media. After several days, the fibroblasts begin synthesizing polypeptide chains that assemble into triple helical structures, followed by fibrils. The fibrillar proteins are hydrolyzed and separated into their constituent amino acids via paper chromatography. Which of the following amino acids is most likely to be found in highest quantity in these proteins?

Question

A dermatology researcher is studying the role of different amino acids in wound healing.  She cultures mature dermal fibroblasts in growth media.  After several days, the fibroblasts begin synthesizing polypeptide chains that assemble into triple helical structures, followed by fibrils.  The fibrillar proteins are hydrolyzed and separated into their constituent amino acids via paper chromatography.  Which of the following amino acids is most likely to be found in highest quantity in these proteins?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Glycine is the most abundant amino acid in collagen.  The triple helical conformation of collagen molecules occurs due to the repetitive amino acid sequence within each alpha chain, in which glycine (Gly) occupies every third amino acid position (Gly-X-Y).

A Dermatology Researcher Is Studying the Role of Different Amino