Molecular species of collagen in muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus

The molecular species of collagen in the muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus were examined by biochemical techniques. Pepsin-solubilized collagens were prepared from these parts, and fractionated into major and minor collagen fractions by differential salt precipitation at acidic or neutral pH. Collagens contained in these fractions showed several features characteristic of fish type I and V collagens, respectively, in SDS-PAGE patterns and the amino acid compositions of both parts. These results suggest that at least two molecular species, corresponding to type I and V collagens, are distributed in the muscular and vertebral parts of white sturgeon.