Osteogenesis imperfecta: evidence for the existence of an abnormal amino acid sequence in the molecule of dermal collagen.

A collagen-type pattern of peptide and amino acid spots was obtained when partial hydrolysates of normal human dermis were examined by a specially developed thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) 'finger-printing' technique. The pattern was consistent and independent of age and sex. Two clinically similar cases of osteogenesis imperfecta congenita gave identical patterns which differed in specific regions from those given by their age-matched, normal controls. A single case of osteogenesis imperfecta tarda showed the same overall pattern as the congenita cases. It is concluded that an abnormal amino acid sequence occurs in the collagen molecule of both types of osteogenesis imperfecta.