Distribution of different molecular species of collagen in the vertebral cartilage of shark (Carcharius acutus).

It is known that cartilage collagen in higher vertebrates conforms to Type II collagen but very little is known of the nature of shark cartilage. This study was undertaken to determine the differences, if any, between shark cartilage collagen and that of higher vertebrates. Collagen was obtained from shark cartilage by pepsin solubilization and characterized by amino acid analysis and determination of chain composition by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and CM-cellulose chromatography. Results indicated the presence not only of Type II collagen but also of Type I collagen. Type I collagen accounted for about one third of the total collagen content of shark cartilage.