SEPARATION OF THE ALPHA-CHAINS OF TYPE-I AND TYPE-III COLLAGENS BY SDS-POLYACRYLAMIDE GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS

A method for the separation of type III collagen from type I collagen by SDS-polyacrylamidegel electrophoresis has been developed. This is based on the observation that the presence of 3-4 M urea decreases the mobility of the α1[III] chain to a greater extent than those of the α1[I] and α2 chains, although the α1[I] and α1[III] chains move at the same rate in the absence of urea. An attempt to separate the α1[II] chain of type II collagen from the α1[I] chain was unsuccessful under the experimental conditions employed. © 1979 by The Journal of Biochemistry.