Characterization of pepsin-soluble collagen from the skin of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Pepsin-soluble collagen was extracted from the skin of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Electrophoretic patterns showed that the collagen contained alpha 1 and alpha 2 chains, and were similar to those of calf skin collagen. The imino acid content of the collagen from grass carp skin was much lower than those of collagens from mammalians, and also did the denaturation temperature that was only 28.4 degrees C. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and circular dichroism showed that the collagen furthest maintained its native triple helical structure. In addition, the lyophilized collagen sponge from grass carp skin had a uniform and regular network structure just as calf skin collagen sponge. These results suggest that grass carp skin is potential for use as a supplementary source of collagen.