Jessica Wang

BIOEN 326
12 December 2013
Question 1
Below is Fig. 6 from the article Viscoelastic properties of model segments of collagen molecules,
(Gautieri et al., 2012):

What is the authors level of certainty on this model? Consider the data, methods, and analysis they
performed to make conclusions about the validity of their model and their presentation of these aspects
within the paper. What possibilities did they consider and how did they justify their choice of model?

Do you agree with the level of certainty you determined above? What do you think their level of
certainty should be?

Question 2
Below is Fig. 5 (slightly enlarged) from paper The mechanical properties of single fibrin fibers (Liu et
al., 2010):

How does the authors proposed model account for the fact they saw energy losses in the fibrin
molecules with the application of varying strains and the responding stresses? (Hint: What do you know
about folding and unfolding of proteins, their energy levels in folded and unfolded states, and the rates
at which the proteins go from one form to another?)

References:
Gautieri, A., Vesentini, S., Redaelli, A., and Buehler, M.J. (2012). Viscoelastic properties of model
segments of collagen molecules. Matrix Biol 31, 141-149.
Liu, W., Carlisle, C.R., Sparks, E.A., and Guthold, M. (2010). The mechanical properties of single fibrin
fibers. J Thromb Haemost 8, 1030-1036.