Sequence alignment of a potential trimerization region of different multiplexins. Sequence alignment of the trimerization domain of different multiplexins. Multiplexins of human, mouse, chicken, zebrafish, drosophila, nematode, sea squirt and sea urchin were aligned using Vector NTI software. Residue numbering is given for the human collagen XVIII NC1 domain. Identical residues across all sequences are shown in white with black shading, conservative residues in black with gray shading, blocks of similar residues are depicted in red, and weakly similar residues in blue. GenBank™ accession numbers for the sequences are as follows: human collagen XVIII, P39060; human collagen XV, P39059; mouse collagen XVIII, P39061; mouse collagen XV, O35206; chicken collagen XVIII, NP_989495; chicken collagen XV, XP_418896; zebrafish collagen XVIII, Q2PBM7; zebrafish collagen XV, Q05H57; drosophila multiplexin, ACD03747; C. elegans CLE-1 protein, Q7JL30; sea squirt (Ciona intestinalis) collagen XVIII homologue, Q86SC8; and sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratis) collagen XVIII homologue, XP_781637. Residues forming hydrophobic interior of the trimerization domain are indicated with asterisk, whereas residues forming hydrophobic core of each subunit are marked with a vertical line.