MMP-1: the elder of the family.
The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-containing endopeptidases that play a key role in both physiological and pathological tissue remodeling. Human fibroblast collagenase (MMP-1) was the first vertebrate collagenase purified as a protein and cloned as a cDNA, and is considered the prototype for all the interstitial collagenases. It is synthesized as a zymogen where N-terminal residues are removed by proteolysis and shares with other MMPs a catalytic domain and a carboxy terminal domain with sequence similarity to hemopexin. Importantly, MMP-1 should be considered a multifunctional molecule since it participates not only in the turnover of collagen fibrils in the extracellular space but also in the cleavage of a number of non-matrix substrates and cell surface molecules suggesting a role in the regulation of cellular behaviour. Furthermore, an extensive body of evidence indicates that MMP-1 plays an important role in diverse physiologic processes such as development, tissue morphogenesis, and wound repair. Likewise, it seems to be implicated in a variety of human diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, pulmonary emphysema and fibrotic disorders, suggesting that its inhibition or stimulation may open therapeutic avenues.
Pardo
Annie
A
Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Apartado Postal 21-630, Coyoacan, México, DF, CP 04000, Mexico. aps@hp.fciencias.unam.mx
Selman
Moisés
M
D000818:Animals; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development / Q000502:physiology; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism; D006466:Hemopexin / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011656:Pulmonary Emphysema / Q000378:metabolism; D040681:Structural Homology, Protein; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D004792:Enzyme Precursors; D003094:Collagen; D006466:Hemopexin; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1