NEW MOLECULAR AND CLINICAL ASPECTS OF COL LAGENS

Collagen is one of the most abundant proteins in human tissues. Togeth er with other connective tissue components (non-collagenous glycoprote ins, proteoglycans, laminins, thrombospondins, entactin and tenascin), collagen promotes cellular adhesion, activates intracellular signals, and regulates the biological activities of growth factors and other p roteins. During the past 20 years at least 19 genetically different co llagenous proteins coded by 30 distinct genes have been identified. He re, we review some new aspects of the collagens that form fibrils, she ets, or beaded filaments, and of the so-called multiplexin collagens. Whenever possible, we give insights regarding the association of the s tructural abnormalities of these proteins as they relate with human di sease(s).