Genes for extracellular-matrix-degrading metalloproteinases and their inhibitor, TIMP, are expressed during early mammalian development.
Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling accompanies cell migration, cell-cell interactions, embryo expansion, uterine implantation, and tissue invasion during mammalian embryogenesis. We have found that mouse embryos secrete functional ECM-degrading metalloproteinases, including collagenase and stromelysin, that are inhibitable by the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and that are regulated during peri-implantation development and endoderm differentiation. mRNA transcripts for collagenase, stromelysin, and TIMP were detected as maternal transcripts in the unfertilized egg, were present at the zygote and cleavage stages, and increased at the blastocyst stage and with endoderm differentiation. These data suggest that metalloproteinases function in cell-ECM interactions during growth, development, and implantation of mammalian embryos.
Brenner
C A
CA
Laboratory of Radiobiology and Environmental Health, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0750.
Adler
R R
RR
Rappolee
D A
DA
Pedersen
R A
RA
Werb
Z
Z
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D004707:Endoderm / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice / Q000196:embryology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010063:Ovum / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013724:Teratoma / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases