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Fibrous proteins are structural or storage proteins that are typically inert and water-insoluble. A fibrous protein occurs as an aggregate due to hydrophobic side chains that protrude from the molecule. A fibrous protein's peptide sequence often has limited residues with repeats; these can form unusual secondary structures, such as a collagen ...
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the ECM, and is the most abundant protein in the human body. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] It accounts for 90% of bone matrix protein content. [ 19 ] Collagens are present in the ECM as fibrillar proteins and give structural support to resident cells.
The collagen protein is composed of a triple helix, which generally consists of two identical chains (α1) and an additional chain that differs slightly in its chemical composition (α2). [23] The amino acid composition of collagen is atypical for proteins, particularly with respect to its high hydroxyproline content.
Elastin is a fibrous protein common in various soft tissues, like skin, blood vessels and lung tissue. Each monomer connects with each other, forming a 3D network, with ability to endure over 200% strain before deformation. [13] Keratin is a structural protein mainly found in hair, nails, hooves, horns, quills. [14]
The adult human body averages ~53% water. [7] This varies substantially by age, sex, and adiposity. In a large sample of adults of all ages and both sexes, the figure for water fraction by weight was found to be 48 ±6% for females and 58 ±8% water for males. [8]
Structural proteins confer stiffness and rigidity to otherwise-fluid biological components. Most structural proteins are fibrous proteins; for example, collagen and elastin are critical components of connective tissue such as cartilage, and keratin is found in hard or filamentous structures such as hair, nails, feathers, hooves, and some animal ...
Connective tissue is found in between other tissues everywhere in the body, including the nervous system. The three meninges, membranes that envelop the brain and spinal cord, are composed of connective tissue. Most types of connective tissue consists of three main components: elastic and collagen fibers, ground substance, and cells. [2]
A cicada emerges from its nymphal exoskeleton; the shed exoskeleton is mostly modified chitin but the wings and much of the adult body are still unsclerotized chitin at this stage. Chitin (C 8 H 13 O 5 N) n (/ ˈ k aɪ t ɪ n / KY-tin) is a long-chain polymer of N-acetylglucosamine, an amide derivative of glucose.