Abstract
Ascorbic acid is a cofactor of hydroxylation of proline and lysine in procollagen. It also stabilizes procollagen mRNAs, stimulates secretion and processing of procollagens. By stimulating bundle formation of type I collagen like this, ascorbic acid supports cultured fibroblasts to form tissue-like structure in vitro. Such activities of ascorbic acid were known only for collagens of connective tissues, but we here show that ascorbic acid phosphate (Asc-P) stimulates synthesis of basement membrane collagen (type IV) as well. Such effect of Asc-P on 3T3-L1 fibroblasts accelerated the differentiation of the cells into adipocytes.
