COL6A1 (E9U3B) Rabbit mAb #52395

Collagen type VI (ColVI) is a microfibrillar collagen found in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of muscles, bone, and connective tissues (1). ColVI consists of three main alpha chains: alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3, which are encoded by the COL6A1, COL6A2, and COL6A3 genes, respectively. The three alpha chains form triple helix monomers and tetramers, which further assemble into a beaded microfilament network structure in the ECM (1,2). ColVI interacts with other ECM components, such as collagens, fibronectins, and perlecan, to support ECM mechanical sensing, anchoring the basement membrane to the surrounding ECM and inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative damage (3,4). Mutations in each of the ColVI genes (COL6A1, COL6A2, and COL6A3) result in defective ColVI assembly, causing Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) and Bethlem myopathy due to malformation of ECM structure (5,6). Knockout of COL6A1 in mice displays a mild myopathy and neurodegeneration associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, defective autophagy, and spontaneous apoptosis of muscle fibers (7,8). Increased COL6A1 in the ECM promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and therapeutic drug resistance (9-11).