Isolation of Soluble Collagen from Hake Skin(Merluccius hubbsi)

Collagen was extracted from hake skins (Merluccius hubbsi) with a 0.5 M acetic acid solution in a ratio of skin weight (g) to volume of solution (ml) of 1 to 20. An 85% of the total extractable proteins was obtained after 200 min of extraction at 0-4°C. Non-col-lagenous proteins were not detected in the collagen solution after six skin washings with 6% NaCl followed by acid extraction and one purification cycle. Collagen was characterized by intrinsic viscosity (13.7 dL/g) and denaruration temperature (10°C). Collagen was identified as Type I by SDS-PAGE 7% determinations, either in presence or absence of β-mercaptoethanol, and selective salt precipitation.