TRANSLATION OF TYPE-II PROCOLLAGEN MESSENGER-RNA AND HYDROXYLATION OF THE CELL-FREE PRODUCT

Poly(A)-rich RNA was isolated from embryonic chick sternal cartilage cells and translated in a rabbit reticulocytelysate messenger-dependent cell-free protein synthesizing system. The presence of mRNA for procollagen type II was indicated by the synthesis of a high molecular weight collagenous polypeptide. This component is identified as the unhydroxylated precursor of type II procollagen on the basis of its electrophoretic mobility, its susceptibility to highly purified bacterial collagenase, and its ability to act as a substrate for collagen prolyl hydroxylase. © 1979.