The collagen superfamily is highly complex and shows a remarkable diversity in molecular
and supramolecular organization, tissue distribution and function. However, all its members
share a common structural feature, the presence of at least one triple-helical domain, which
corresponds to a number of (Gly–X–Y) n repeats (X being frequently proline and Y
hydroxyproline) in the amino acid sequence. Several sub-families have been determined
according to sequence homologies and to similarities in the structural organization and …