(EC 1.14.11.7). Although present in much lower amounts than trans-L-4-hydroxyproline, 3-hydroxyproline is indispensable for the functioning of type IV collagen in mice. Without it the embryo does not survive to birth.

Intestinal bacteria produce 4-hydroxyproline epimerase, which performs a bidirectional conversion between the typical (for humans) trans-4-hydroxyproline and cis-4-hydroxy-D-proline. Archaea,