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What happens to collagen when it is heated in water?
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connective tissue
Randomly oriented collagenous fibers of varying size in a thin spread of loose areolar connective tissue (magnified about 370 Γ).
When collagen is boiled in water, its characteristic triple helix structure is destroyed, a process known as heat denaturation.12
During this process, the protein's subunits are partially hydrolyzed, resulting in the formation of gelatin. These unfolded peptide chains are capable of trapping large amounts of water, creating a hydrated molecule. Unlike native collagen, which is insoluble, the resulting gelatin is soluble and digestible.12