As humans age, their connective tissue, rich in collagen, becomes more rigid and brittle. What is the molecular cause of this change?
A) Collagen fibrils change their degree of supercoiling over time.
B) Many older adults have vitamin C deficiencies that result in collagen oxidation.
C) As cells age, a variant of collagen is expressed.
D) Crosslinks between collagen fibrils accumulate over time.
E) UV damage to collagen accumulates over time.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Crosslinks between collagen fibrils accumulate over time. As collagen fibrils age, they become increasingly crosslinked, resulting in a more rigid and brittle structure. These crosslinks can form spontaneously over time, or as a result of exposure to environmental factors such as free radicals or UV radiation.

As Humans Age, Their Connective Tissue, Rich in Collagen, Becomes