Collagen III [9H9]

The family of collagens is composed of several chain types, including fibril-forming interstitial collagens (types I, II, III and V) and basement membrane collagens (type IV), each type containing multiple isoforms. Collagens are fibrous, extracellular matrix proteins with high tensile strength and are the major components of connective tissue, such as tendons and cartilage. All collagens contain a triple helix domain and frequently show lateral self-association in order to form complex connective tissues. Several collagens also play a role in cell adhesion, important for maintaining normal tissue architecture and function. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content. Collagen alpha-1(III) chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the COL3A1 gene, which is located on chromosome 2. Collagen alpha-1(III) chain is a fibrillar collagen that is found in extensible connective tissues such as skin, lung, and the vascular system, frequently in association with type I collagen.