title: Stromelysin is an activator of procollagenase. A study with natural and recombinant enzymes.
abstract: The latent forms of stromelysin and collagenase from human gingival fibroblasts were purified to homogeneity. These latent proenzymes underwent serial small reductions in Mr upon activation by treatment with either 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate or trypsin. Similar shifts in Mr and activation kinetics were observed upon identical treatments of either recombinant prostromelysin or procollagenase. Prostromelysin showed a lag between activation and Mr fall, suggesting an initial activation by conformational change. Collagenase activity was enhanced up to 12-fold by either natural or recombinant stromelysin in the presence of trypsin or 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate. Stromelysin caused a further apparent decrease in the Mr of procollagenase. Since these important connective-tissue-degrading enzymes are usually co-ordinately produced by cells, a cascade mechanism is proposed in which collagenase is activated by stromelysin.
authors.affiliation: Strangeways Research Laboratory, Worts Causeway, Cambridge, U.K.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Cockett
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Docherty
mesh_terms: D017364:Collagenases; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism*; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013439:Sulfhydryl Reagents; C010024:4-aminophenylmercuriacetate; D017364:Collagenases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; C022440:procollagenase; C048047:prostromelysin; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D010662:Phenylmercuric Acetate