title: Use of a multiple-enzyme/multiple-reagent assay system to quantify activity levels in samples containing mixtures of matrix metalloproteinases.
abstract: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes that are up-regulated in many diseases, including osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here we report on a novel technique that can be used to simultaneously measure activity levels for a panel of enzymes, such as the MMPs. The technique, termed the multiple-enzyme/multiple-reagent assay system (MEMRAS), relies on the use of reagents such as substrates with varying selectivity profiles against a group of enzymes. When reaction rates are measured by following a change in fluorescence with time, for mixtures of enzymes, an equation with unknown concentrations for each activity is generated for each reagent used. Simultaneously solving the set of equations leads to a solution for the unknown concentrations. We have applied this mathematical technique to measure activity levels for mixtures of MMPs such as collagenase 3 and gelatinase A. In addition, because we were most interested in determining collagenase 3 levels as a potential biological marker for OA, we developed highly selective substrates for this enzyme by using results found in previous bacteriophage substrate-mapping experiments. Some of the best substrates tested have specific activities for collagenase 3 that are 37,000-, 17,000-, 90-, and 200-fold selective over stromelysin 1, collagenase 1, and gelatinases A and B, respectively.
authors.affiliation: BioZyme, Inc., Apex, North Carolina 27523, USA.
authors.forename: Fred H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: Nolan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kiefer
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopez-Otin
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Vitek
authors.forename: Marcia L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Moss
mesh_terms: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D017364:Collagenases / Q000737:chemistry; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000737:chemistry; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D019793:Fluorescein; D005470:Fluorometry; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007700:Kinetics; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000737:chemistry; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000737:chemistry; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000737:chemistry; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000737:chemistry*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*
chemical_list: D002863:Chromogenic Compounds; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009842:Oligopeptides; C063127:4-(4-dimethylaminophenylazo)benzoic acid; D005780:Gelatin; D004124:p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C417249:collagenase 1; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D019793:Fluorescein