Description
Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc and calcium dependent endopeptidases with the combined ability to degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMP-16 (MT3-MMP) is found in brain, lung, placenta, smooth muscle cells, and malignant tumor tissues including oral melanoma and renalcarcinoma (1). MMP 16 has been shown to activate proMMP 2 and degrade various ECM components including native collagens (2, 3). MMP 16 has been proposed topossess the potential to directly enhance the growth and invasiveness of cells in vivo, two critical processes for development and carcinogenesis (4). Structurally,MMP 16 consists of the following domains: a pro domain containing the furin cleavage site, a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site, a hinge region, ahemopexin like domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplamasic tail (1). The structure of the catalytic domain in complex with a hydroxamate inhibitor has beensolved (5). The recombinant human MMP 16PC consists of the pro and catalytic domains, which can be activated by treatment with furin