α1(XX) collagen, a new member of the collagen subfamily, fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices

Chick cDNA clones for a new member of the FACIT (fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices) subfamily have been isolated and sequenced. The collagen chain encoded by these cDNAs was assigned the next consecutive number, making it the alpha1(XX) collagen chain. Assignment of type XX collagen to the FACIT family was based on sequence similarities to types XII and XIV collagen. Type XX collagen mRNA is not abundant in the chick embryo. It is most prevalent in corneal epithelium. It is also detectable by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in embryonic skin, sternal cartilage, and tendon, but is barely detectable in calvaria, notochord, or neural retina at select stages of development, suggesting that it is not expressed in these tissues. The cDNA predicts that the alpha1(XX) collagen polypeptide is smaller than the short forms of collagen XII and XIV. A polyclonal antibody against a synthetic alpha1(XX) peptide reacts with polypeptide bands of 185, 170, and 135 kDa by Western blot analysis. From its similarity to types XII and XIV collagen, type XX is expected to bind to collagen fibrils, projecting the amino-terminal domains away from the fibrillar surface. The projecting NC 3 domains are predicted to be about half the length of those of collagen XIV.