The complete primary structure of the human alpha 1 (VIII) chain and assignment of its gene (COL8A1) to chromosome 3.

Type VIII collagen molecules, expressed by corneal and vascular endothelial cells, appear to be heterotrimers composed of two genetically distinct polypeptides, alpha 1 (VIII) and alpha 2(VIII), in the ratio of 2:1. Characterization of the rabbit alpha 1(VIII) gene has demonstrated that it consists of only four exons, one of which is large and encodes the entire triple-helical and carboxyl non-triple-helical domains. A similar exon organization has been found for the chicken alpha 1(X) and the mouse and human alpha 2(VIII) collagen genes. The genes encoding alpha 1(VIII), alpha 2(VIII), and alpha 1(X) collagen chains are therefore homologous members of a unique class of genes within the collagen superfamily. In the present paper we describe for the first time the primary structure of the human alpha 1(VIII) collagen chain, based on isolation and sequencing of a genomic DNA fragment. The results indicate that the human alpha 1(VIII) chain has the same domain structure as the rabbit protein. We also demonstrate that the gene is localized on the long arm of the human chromosome 3. The availability of genomic DNA encoding the human alpha 1(VIII) collagen chain and information about its chromosomal location should make it possible to examine whether hereditary diseases are linked to abnormalities in the structure or expression of the alpha 1(VIII) gene.