Isolation and characterisation of collagen from the outer skin waste material of cuttlefish (Sepia lycidas)

In an investigation into making more effective use of underutilized resources, collagen was prepared from the outer skin of cuttlefish (Sepia lycidas). Initial extraction of the cuttlefish outer skin in acetic acid yielded only 2% of collagen (dry weight basis). On subsequent digestion of the residue with 10% pepsin (w/v), a solubilized collagen (PSC) was obtained in a yield of 35% (dry weight basis). With respect to PSC, it had a chain composition of (alpha 1)(2)alpha2 heterotrimer similar to Japanese common squid. Moreover, the denaturation temperature of this collagen was 27 degreesC which is about 10 degreesC lower than that of porcine collagen. This report indicates that cuttlefish waste materials have potential in supplementing the skin of land vertebrates as a source of collagen. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.