Surface model of the collagen fibril as determined by two-stage plastic replica

Summary Two-stage plastic replicas of fresh and vacuum dried rat tail collagen were examined by electron microscopy. Microphotometer tracings made from the replica micrographs showed that the surface of the collagen has a periodic undulating topography which includes an approximately 20–40 Å deep depression located within the major band distance.This work was supported by the Hendricks Research Fund No. 93252 and the V. A. Research Service Project No. 098-147718-01.