Studies on bullfrog skin collagen

Pepsin-soluble collagens were prepared from bullfrog skin and partially characterized. This study revealed interesting differences in the frog skin collagen when compared with known vertebrate collagens. This may be attributed to the position of the amphibians in the vertebrate hierarchy. Therefore, detailed investigations on various physicochemical properties, such as molecular weight, amino acid composition, denaturation temperature, UV-Vis and IR spectra of bullfrog skin collagen were carried out. The study confirms the structural relationship of collagen to habitat and function. Moreover bullfrog skin has potential Lis an alternative source of collagen to calf skin and bone for use in various fields. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.