Solution structure of an ABC collagen heterotrimer reveals a single-register helix stabilized by electrostatic interactions.

ABSTRACT: Collagen, known for its structural role in tissues and also for its participation in the regulation of homeostatic and pathological processes in mammals, is assembled from triple helices that can be either homotrimers or heterotrimers. High resolution structural information for natural collagens has been difficult to obtain because of their size and the heterogeneity of their native environment. For this reason, peptides that self-assemble into collagen-like triple helices are used to gain insight into the structure, stability, and biochemistry of this important protein family. Although many of the most common collagens in humans are heterotrimers, almost all studies of collagen helices have been on homotrimers. Here we report the first structure of a collagen heterotrimer. Our structure,

SUBMITTER: Fallas JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2785373 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature