Collagen, a type of connective tissue that makes up about thirty percent of the human body, is a structural protein that serves as an important component of muscle, skin, bones and cartilage, and forms scar tissue when injuries heal. Recent work by Professor Collin Stultz’s research group in RLE and his colleagues show that, depending on the temperature, collagen can switch between its usual rigid structure and a much floppier, more flexible shape. Potential applications of this discovery hold intriguing possibilities for the treatment of heart disease and cancer. «more»
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