Background
This gene encodes the alpha chain of type XXI collagen, a member of the FACIT (fibril-associated collagens with interrupted helices) collagen family. Type XXI collagen is localized to tissues containing type I collagen and maintains the integrity of the extracellular matrix. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016],
Function
caution:The sequence shown here is derived from an Ensembl automatic analysis pipeline and should be considered as preliminary data.,developmental stage:Highest expression observed at the fetal stage. Expressed by smooth-muscle cells in the artery wall in a PDGF-dependent way.,induction:Stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF).,similarity:Belongs to the fibril-associated collagens with interrupted helices (FACIT) family.,similarity:Contains 1 TSP N-terminal (TSPN) domain.,similarity:Contains 1 VWFA domain.,similarity:Contains 6 collagen-like domains.,subcellular location:Found in the extracellular matrix component of blood vessel walls and in the cytoplasm of cultured human aortic smooth muscle.,tissue specificity:Highly expressed in lymph node, jejunum, pancreas, stomach, trachea, testis, uterus and placenta; moderately expressed in brain, colon, lung, prostate, spinal cord,
