Solubilization of bovine heart-value collagen.

Complete solubilization of bovine heart-valve gollagen was obtained by using sequential pepsin digestion and extraction with dithiothreitol under non-denaturing conditions. Use of the reducing agent was the crucial step resulting in solubilization. These findings suggest that disulphide-bonded proteins may be in part responsible for the insolubility of bovine heart-valve collagen.