title: A preliminary study of activation of collagenase in carious human dentine matrix.
abstract: Collagenolytic activity in human carious and non-carious dentine matrix was compared. Results confirmed the presence of latent collagenase in demineralized dentine and indicated a slow rate of degradation of collagen substrate. Collagenolytic activity was enhanced with the addition of trypsin-TPCK to the demineralized dentine. More activity was observed in the carious dentine, suggesting the presence of collagenase activators or partial enzymic destruction of the inhibitor in the collagen-collagenase-inhibitor complex. It seems that during dentine development collagenase-inhibitor complex is secreted and bound to collagen-dentine matrix, and the enzyme can be activated during the process of dental caries.
mesh_terms: D003731:Dental Caries / Q000201:enzymology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000201:enzymology*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D003012:Microbial Collagenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D014108:Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethyl Ketone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D014108:Tosylphenylalanyl Chloromethyl Ketone; D003012:Microbial Collagenase