Translations:Collagen/20/en

Amino acids

Collagen has an unusual amino acid composition and sequence:

• Glycine is found at almost every third residue.
• Proline makes up about 17% of collagen.
• Collagen contains two unusual derivative amino acids not directly inserted during translation. These amino acids are found at specific locations relative to glycine and are modified post-translationally by different enzymes, both of which require vitamin C as a cofactor.
  • Hydroxyproline derived from proline
  • Hydroxylysine derived from lysine – depending on the type of collagen, varying numbers of hydroxylysines are glycosylated (mostly having disaccharides attached).