Fast monitoring of long-range order in the ensemble of collagen domains in the achilles tendons and human knees in vivo

Aim. The dynamics of the collagen domain structure in the Achilles tendons and knees when they are stretched. Research method. A new non-invasive gravitational mass spectroscopy (GMS) method for operational (1...20 s) long-range order (LRO) monitoring in human tendons (achilles tendom and lateral collateral ligament) at the level of their molecular domains in vivo. As probands, members of the same family from 8 to 67 years old were involved. Results. Structural changes were detected in the forms of activated collagen domains in tendons at stretching. The domain masses range from 200 Daltons to 3,5 billion Daltons. Age differences and differences by gender in LRO were found. The domain ensemble itself has been established to be structured and represented by several sub-ensembles, reflecting the dynamics of giant micellar structures, structures in the NC1 range, as well as conformational constructions of domains inside the NC1 hexamer itself in the collagen. Conclusion. The method can be proposed for objective control of the state of wide tendons populations

NC1, collagen, domains, LRO, NC1, non-invasive method, tendons, man