ABSTRACT
Collagen is the major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), forming key structures for most parts of our body such as skin, bone, tendon, and blood vessel. Besides its prominent mechanical property to provide strength and stability to the tissue (Fratzl, 2003), collagen is also an important scaffold with numerous ligand-binding sites for cells to attach and migrate, as well as serve as ligands for intracellular signaling (Sweeney et al., 2008; Leitinger, 2011). Collagen thus plays key roles in numerous pathophysiological processes such as development, wound healing, arthritis, cancer, and atherosclerosis (Myllyharju and Kivirikko, 2001; Sternlicht and Werb, 2001; Fields, 2013).
