Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals,
constitutes about one-quarter of the total
body protein. It occurs in skin, bones, tendons,
cartilage, blood vessels, teeth, basement membranes,
the corneas and vitreous bodies, and
supporting tissues of the internal organs. Collagen
forms interlinked, insoluble threads (fibrils)
of unusual strength. A fiber of 1mm
diameter can hold a weight of almost 10 kg.
More than ten distinct human diseases are
caused bymutations in one of the genes encoding
collagen. Collagen genes form a multigene
family with more than 28 members, their genes
being located on 12 different chromosomes.
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