Recombinant Rat MMP-9 Protein, CF

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc- and calcium dependent endopeptidases with the combined ability to degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix. MMP-9 (gelatinase B) can degrade a broad range of substrates including gelatin, collagen types IV and V, elastin and proteoglycan core protein. It is believed to act synergistically with interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) in the degradation of fibrillar collagens as it degrades their denatured gelatin forms. MMP-9 is produced by keratinocytes, monocytes, macrophages and PMN leukocytes. MMP-9 is present in most cases of inflammatory responses. Structurally, MMP-9 may be divided into five distinct domains: a pro-domain which is cleaved upon activation, a catalytic domain containing the zinc binding site, a gelatin-binding domain consisting of three contiguous fibronectin type II units, a proline-rich linker region, and four carboxyl terminal hemopexin-like domains.