# PHYSIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF BONE: VITAMIN D NUTRITION

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 1987 · $101,915

## Abstract

Realizing that the physiology and biochemistry of bone and the nutritional role
of vitamin D are important to orthopedists nutritionists, other clinicians, and
to basic scientists, we have established the following overall objectives and
long-term goals for the proposed work:  (1) to gain a better understanding of
the regulatory factors involved in the formation and stabilization of the
macromolecular matrix of bone; (2) to ascertain and understand the mechanisms
whereby pathogenic disorders alter the quantitative relationship of the
intermolecular covalent structural crosslinks of bone collagen; and (3) to gain
insight into and compare the molecular architectures of normal and patholoic
bone collagen.  Basic research into these phenomena will lead to an
understanding of the structure-function relationship of mineralized matrices.
Rates of turnover and biosynthesis of soft and hard tissue collagen will be
compared between normal and vitamin D-deficient chicks.  Rachitic bone collagen
will be prepared, and the analysis, distribution and loci of the intermolecular
crosslinks will be detemined from amino acid composition and sequence of CNBr
and smaller peptides prepared from specific enzymic digests.  The amounts of
NaBH4-reducible stable imines and their location in collagen will be determined
by various chemical methods.  The locus of all the hydroxylysines partaking in
crosslink formation will be identified.  Abberrations noted may elucidate and
provide insight into the structure-function relationship of bone collagen.  The
ultimate goal of such a study is to disclose specific structural and functional
alterations so that their expressson in biochemical and molecular terms may be
used in formulating rational diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in disease
states involving bone.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3155086
- **Project number:** 5R01AR019969-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** D3LHU66KBLD5
- **Principal Investigator:** GERALD MECHANIC
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $101,915
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1979-09-10 → 1988-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3155086

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3155086, PHYSIOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY OF BONE: VITAMIN D NUTRITION (5R01AR019969-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3155086. Licensed CC0.

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