title: Activation of progelatinase B (MMP-9) by gelatinase A (MMP-2).
abstract: The M(r) 72,000 (MMP-2; gelatinase A) and M(r) 92,000 (MMP-9; gelatinase B) gelatinases are two members of the family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). These proteinases are thought to play a critical role in tumor cell invasion and are frequently coexpressed in human cancers. Gelatinases are secreted in a latent inactive form, and their conversion to the active species can be accomplished by other proteolytic enzymes, including other MMPs. We report herein that organomercurial or plasma membrane-activated M(r) 72,000 gelatinase A activates progelatinase B to an M(r) 82,000 active form in a process inhibited by tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2. Progelatinase B activation was accomplished by the two active species of gelatinase A, the M(r) 62,000 and M(r) 45,000 forms, generated after plasma membrane or organomercurial activation of TIMP-2-free progelatinase A. The M(r) 45,000 species of gelatinase A lacks both the NH2-terminal profragment and the COOH-terminal domain known to play a role in plasma membrane activation and the regulation of TIMP-2 inhibition. These results suggest a novel mechanism of activation of progelatinase B mediated by gelatinase A species that may be localized in the surface of tumor cells and enhance matrix degradation during cancer metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fridman
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toth
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mobashery
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D017364:Collagenases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011506:Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D011506:Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9