Recombinant Collagen Molecular Weight

Recombinant collagen is a type of collagen protein expressed in microorganisms, animal cells, or plants through genetic engineering technology. Compared with collagen extracted from natural sources, recombinant collagen has better safety, purity, and controllability, thus it is widely used in the biomedical and cosmetics industries. The molecular weight of recombinant collagen is an important parameter for understanding its structure and function.

 

Structure of Collagen

Collagen is a protein with a triple helix structure, composed of three polypeptide chains, which are entwined in the helix in a specific manner. The molecular weight of natural collagen varies widely, ranging from tens of kilodaltons (kDa) to hundreds of kilodaltons, depending on the type and source of collagen.

 

Molecular Weight of Recombinant Collagen

The molecular weight of recombinant collagen mainly depends on the designed length and composition of its polypeptide chains. Researchers can design specific collagen genes through genetic engineering technology to control the molecular weight of the final product. In general, the molecular weight of recombinant collagen can be designed in the range of several thousand Daltons to hundreds of thousands of Daltons to meet the needs of different applications.

 

For example, recombinant collagen used for cell culture matrices or tissue engineering scaffolds may require a higher molecular weight (e.g., 100 kDa or higher) to ensure sufficient mechanical strength and structural stability. Meanwhile, recombinant collagen used for cosmetics or drug delivery systems may be designed with a lower molecular weight (e.g., 30 kDa to 90 kDa) for ease of skin absorption or to achieve specific biodistribution.

 

Determination of Molecular Weight

The determination of the molecular weight of recombinant collagen typically uses the following techniques:

 

1. Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) or High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

Estimate the molecular weight of the sample by comparing the elution time of known molecular weight standards.

 

2. Mass Spectrometry (MS)

Directly measure the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z) of molecular ions to accurately determine the molecular weight.

 

3. SDS-PAGE (Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis)

Estimate the molecular weight of the sample indirectly by comparing the migration distance of known molecular weight standard proteins.

 

The molecular weight of recombinant collagen is an important indicator of its biological function and application performance. Through genetic engineering technology, the molecular weight of recombinant collagen can be accurately controlled to meet different application needs.