= Roberto Vanacore
{c}
<Roberto Vanacore> investigates the chemistry of the <extracellular matrix>, particularly the <collagen> networks supporting tissues. A 2009 study led by Vanacore identified an unusual <sulfilimine bond> joining neighboring <Collagen IV> units. The team combined <mass spectrometry> with <nuclear magnetic resonance> to establish a <sulfur>–<nitrogen> connection between <methionine> and <hydroxylysine>.<A Sulfilimine Bond Identified in Collagen IV by Roberto Vanacore and others>[abstract; Figures 1–3]{ref}
The discovery makes a useful distinction between seeing that two <proteins> are joined and determining the chemical identity of the join. Precise mass constrains the atoms present, while spectroscopic measurements provide additional evidence about their arrangement. Together these methods resolved a link whose identification had been difficult from structural images alone. The crosslink reinforces the <Collagen IV> scaffold of <basement membranes>, connecting atomic bonding with tissue-scale mechanical organization.<A Sulfilimine Bond Identified in Collagen IV by Roberto Vanacore and others>[introductory discussion of earlier assignments, exact-mass measurements and NMR identification]{ref}
\Image[https://vumcmatrixbio.com/sites/default/files/2023-09/vanacore.jpg]
{title=Roberto Vanacore}
{description=Portrait identified by the https://vumcmatrixbio.com/roberto-vanacore-phd[Vanderbilt Center for Matrix Biology].}
{height=300}
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