Establishing design rules for creating collagen-like materials with specific mechanical stability and response (COLMEC)

Every day, our bodies endure myriad mechanical forces that influence proteins, especially collagen, at the molecular level. COLMEC aims to use collagen as a model to uncover the nuances of protein mechanochemistry. A central aspect of this research is deciphering how collagen's evolutionary adaptations influence its response to forces, especially in contexts of aging and disease. This pursuit is split into three distinct objectives: (1) investigating the coevolution of collagen's amino acid residues to decode its response to tensile forces; (2) delving into the role of metal ions in collagen crosslinking, drawing parallels with natural phenomena such as the resilience of mussel byssus; and (3) probing the mechanisms of force propagation within collagen's varied structures. Merging bioinformatics, computational biophysics, and materials science, COLMEC's interdisciplinary approach illuminates how evolution shapes protein defenses against mechanical strains. This knowledge is pivotal in establishing design rules for crafting synthetic collagen-like materials with tailored mechanical stability and response, bridging evolutionary insights with innovative material design.