Collagen, type XII, alpha 1

Collagen alpha-1(XII) chain is a protein that in humans is encoded by the "COL12A1" gene.
This gene encodes the alpha chain of type XII collagen, a member of the FACIT (fibril-associated collagens with interrupted triple helices) collagen family. Type XII collagen is a homotrimer found in association with type I collagen, an association that is thought to modify the interactions between collagen I fibrils and the surrounding matrix. 
Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified.