[Cartilage collagen in health and in pathology]

The paper deals with the latest data on structure organization of collagen proteins--basic and minor components of the extracellular matrix of the animal cartilage tissue. Their genetic determination and tissue specificity, differences in the initial structure, sizes of spiral and globular domains, availability of --SH- and --S--S-bonds are emphasized. Data are presented which confirm that the change in the collagen state is one of the determining factors in pathogenesis of the cartilage tissue.