A new FACIT of the collagen family: COL21A1

Interrogation of the Human Genome data for sequences related to the von Wil lebrand factor A-domain module identified a previously unreported 4.1 kb fu ll-length cDNA that is predicted to encode a new member of the collagen sup erfamily of extracellular matrix proteins, collagen XXI. The domain organiz ation of collagen XXI comprised an N-terminal signal sequence, followed by single von Willebrand factor A-domain and thrombospondin domains, and an in terrupted collagen triple helix. The organization of these motifs predict t hat collagen XXI is a new member of the FACIT collagen sub-family. Expressi on analysis indicated that COL21A1 mRNA is present in many tissues includin g heart, stomach, kidney, skeletal muscle and placenta, and radiation hybri d mapping localized the COL21A1 gene to 6p11-12. (C) 2001 Published by Else vier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Socie ties.