Figure 1From: Breast cancer patients with bone metastases are characterised by increased levels of nonisomerised type I collagen fragmentsRacemisation and isomerisation of CTX molecules. Reaction of the peptide backbone nitrogen with the aspartyl carboxyl residue can result in the formation of a succinimide ring (a → b). This intermediate produces peptides and β-aspartyl peptides in both the D and L configurations. CTX, crosslinked C-telopeptide of type I collagenBack to article page