The primary structure of a triple‐helical domain of collagen type VIII from bovine Descemet's membrane

We have isolated and sequenced a fragment of 469 amino acid residues from bovine type VIII collagen. The sequence was composed of a series of Gly‐X‐Y repeats which was interrupted 8 times by short imperfections. The number and relative location of these interruptions were similar to those of chicken α1(X) and rabbit αl(VIII) chain triple‐helical domains. Comparison to published N‐terminal sequences to two triple‐helical fragments of bovine type VIII collagen and to the cDNA derived sequence of the rabbit αl(VIII) chain showed that this fragment was the triple‐helical domain of a second type VIII collagen chain which we designate α2(VIII).