EVOLUTION OF THE COLLAGEN FIBRIL BY DUPLICATION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF A SMALL PRIMORDIAL EXON UNIT

A connection is established between the exon/intron organization of the gene and the aggregation of the molecules of the fiber forming collagen types I, II, and III. The exon structure is found to be reflected in the alternating interaction pattern that governs the D-staggered aggregation of the molecules in the fibril. The origin of the fibril formation is discussed.