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Solving the mystery of procollagen chain selectivity

The recently solved crystal structure of the procollagen C propeptide reveals the basis for chain selectivity as well as an unexpected asymmetry to this homotrimeric molecule. In addition, mapping disease-causing mutations to the structure demonstrates clear correlation between severity of disease and mutation location.

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Figure 1: Procollagen chain selection is determined by the CRS in the C propeptide.
Figure 2: Structure of the C propeptide of type III procollagen.

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Correspondence to Neil J Bulleid.

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Bulleid, N. Solving the mystery of procollagen chain selectivity. Nat Struct Mol Biol 19, 977–978 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nsmb.2397

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