COLPG gene family

The COLPG genes provide instructions for making the protein component of large molecules called collagen proteoglycans. A proteoglycan is a molecule that is made up of a core protein attached to one or more sugar molecules called glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains. The COLPG gene family is a subset of a larger gene family known as the proteoglycan superfamily.

The many different types of proteoglycans are classified according to their core protein. The core protein produced by members of the COLPG gene family is collagen. Collagens are a family of proteins that strengthen and support connective tissues, such as skin, bone, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments. Collagen proteoglycans are major components of the extracellular matrix, which is an intricate lattice of proteins and other molecules that forms in the spaces between cells. The collagen proteoglycans bind to a variety of other proteins in the extracellular matrix, including other forms of collagen.