ABSTRACT
The structures and functions of members of the vertebrate collagen superfamily are presented, including the fibrillar and fibril-associated collagens, beaded filament collagen, basement membrane and associated collagens, short chain collagens, transmembrane collagens and related collagen-like proteins. Recent progress in the determination of the three-dimensional structure o f collagen fibrils is described, as are the various mechanisms that control collagen biosynthesis and assembly both in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the many biomedical applications of collagens are reviewed, including the use of natural, recombinant and biomimetic molecules, in different tissue-specific contexts.
