Scientists have long been puzzled by the extraordinary preservation of collagen in dinosaur fossils dating back millions of years.
Countless dinosaur fossils have endured the test of time — trapped in deep sediment layers only to be discovered millions of years later.
Collagen is a complicated protein made up of long strands that connect to form a strong triple helix. This structure is essential for giving stability and elasticity to animal tissues. The researchers found a unique atomic-level interaction that defends collagen against water molecules. This interaction involves the sharing of electrons between neighboring peptide bonds, which keeps water molecules from breaking the bonds and triggering hydrolysis.
Raines’s research group has been studying the chemical basis for the stability of collagen for over 25 years. The researchers created different forms of collagen to test their theory. These included: the “trans” form, which typically forms a triple helix, and the “cis” form, where the peptide bond angles are rotated.
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