Vertebrate (chick) collagen fibrils formed in vivo can exhibit a reversal in molecular polarity.

A reversal in molecular polarity can occur in vertebrate collagen fibrils. This has been demonstrated using a method for isolating, from chick embryo tendon, entire collagen fibrils 2 to 14 microns in length and suitable for electron-optical examination. A polarity reversal is present in some, but not all, of these fibrils. Such fibrils have two N-ends. The transition region, occupying several D-periods in which the reversal occurs, is not restricted to a central location in a fibril. Analysis of the fibril banding pattern through the transition region shows that the relative axial alignment of antiparallel molecules brings oppositely-directed C-telopeptides into axial register. This could allow antiparallel molecules to be covalently linked via polymeric cross-links involving these C-telopeptides.