Procollagen, the precursor of collagen, contains a large C-terminal domain called COLFI that initiates homotrimerization and harbors mutations associated with different diseases. Now the crystal structure of the COLFI domain from human procollagen III is presented, revealing the mechanisms for specificity of trimer formation and the position of disease-related mutations.
- Jean-Marie Bourhis
- Natacha Mariano
- David J S Hulmes
