COLL2-alpha

Function

COLL2-alpha encodes collagen which belongs to the fibril-forming group (D'Alessio et al., 1990). Collagens play a role in determining matrix composition and, consequently, in influecing the processes of spiculogenesis and gastrulation (Wessel et al., 1987, Blankenship, et al., 1984).

Protein

COLL2-alpha is a fibrillar collagen. The deduced amino acid sequence of the sea urchin polypeptide displays a close similarity with the primary structure of a vertebrate fibrillar collagen. The sequence of the echinoid chain includes a 265-amino acid carboxyl terminal noncollagenous extension, and an uninterrupted series of 262 Gly-X-Y repeated triplets. At the carboxyl terminus several Gly-Pro-Pro triplets are conceivably involved in the stabilization of the forming trimers.
The rare sequence Gly-Gly, unique to the sea urchins and other Echinodermata collagens, is present in the COLL2-alpha chain. The carboxyl-terminal telopeptide of COLL2-alpha contains another characteristic structural feature, namely a lysine potentially involved in intermolecular cross-links (D'Alessio et al., 1990).
GenBank: 159962

Subcellular location

Collagen molecules are found in the intercellular spaces (Baccetti et al., 1985).

Expression Pattern

Nothern blot hybridization detected COLL2-alpha mRNA in pluteus and less clearly in prism.

mRNA level

Temporal accumulation
Method: Northern blot analysis
Reference: D'Alessio et al., 1990

Stage Gastrula Prism Pluteus

Level - + +

At late gastrula the COLL2-alpha mRNA is present in some, but not all of the embryo PMC, as well as in the SMC.
By the prism stage, derivatives of the SMC are the most heavily labeled cells, while the derivatives of the PMC display a signal above background.

Spatial localization
Method: in situ hybridization
Reference: D'Alessio et al., 1990

Stage Early mesenchyme blastula Late gastrula Prism

Tissue - Primary and secondary mesenchyme cells Primary and secondary mesenchyme cells

Sequences

GenBank:

mRNA, complete cds.

Regulatory Regions

Regions

Regulatory Connections

Upstream Genes

COLL2-alpha

Downstream Genes

Evolutionary Homologues

COL2A1 H. sapiens
COL1A1 H. sapiens
COL3A1 H. sapiens
COL1A2 H. sapiens
COL5A2 H. sapiens
COL11A1 H. sapiens

Links

Urchin Web

Bibliography

UrchiNet

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Stage	Early mesenchyme blastula	Late gastrula	Prism
Tissue	-	Primary and secondary mesenchyme cells	Primary and secondary mesenchyme cells