Col3a1 - collagen, type III, alpha 1

This gene encodes the alpha-1 subunit of the fibril-forming type III collagen found in bone, cartilage, dentin, tendon, bone marrow stroma and other connective tissue. The encoded protein forms homotrimeric type III procollagen that undergoes proteolytic processing during fibril formation. A majority of mice lacking the encoded protein die within two days of birth but about 5% of the animals survive to adulthood. The surviving mice exhibit severe cortical malformation and experience significantly shorter lifespan. The mutant mouse named "tight skin 2" exhibiting systemic sclerosis phenotype was found to harbor a missense point mutation in this gene. A pseudogene of this gene has been defined on chromosome 8. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]