Characterization of two genetically distinct type I-like collagens from lamprey (Entosphenus japonicus).

1. Type I-like collagens were isolated by limited pepsin digestion from various tissues of lamprey, a member of the cyclostomes. 2. Characterization of these collagens revealed the tissue-specific existence of two genetically distinct molecular species, each possessing the typical heterotrimeric nature of (alpha 1)2 alpha 2; one was designated skin collagen which existed in dermis and the other was designated body collagen which was distributed in muscle, intestine and cartilage. 3. The body collagen resembled invertebrate Type I-like collagens in many respects, whereas the skin collagen had a primordial form of vertebrate Type I collagen.