Recombinant, human pro-MMP-2 expressed in mouse cells. Useful for immunoblotting, substrate cleavage and assay zymography. The ~72 kDa purified proenzyme MMP-2 may be used as a positive control or standard for zymographic analysis, immunoblotting, or substrate cleavage assays. Requires activation prior to use. Matrix metalloproteinases are members of a unique family of proteolytic enzymes that have a zinc ion at their active sites and can degrade collagens, elastin and other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). These enzymes are present in normal healthy individuals and have been shown to have an important role in processes such as wound healing, pregnancy, and bone resorption. However, overexpression and activation of MMPs have been linked with a range of pathological processes and disease states involved in the breakdown and remodeling of the ECM. Such diseases include tumor invasion and metastasis, rheumatoid arthritis, periodontal disease and vascular processes such as angiogenesis, intimal hyperplasia, atherosclerosis and aneurysms. Recently, MMPs have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer′s, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Natural inhibitors of MMPs, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs) exist and synthetic inhibitors have been developed which offer hope of new treatment options for these diseases.

Regulation of MMP activity can occur at the level of gene expression, including transcription and translation, level of activation, or at the level of inhibition by TIMPs. Thus, perturbations at any of these points can theoretically lead to alterations in ECM turnover. Expression is under tight control by pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and/or growth factors and, once produced the enzymes are usually secreted as inactive zymograms. Upon activation (removal of the inhibitory propeptide region of the molecules) MMPs are subject to control by locally produced TIMPs1. All MMPs can be activated in vitro with organomercurial compounds (e.g., 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate), but the agents responsible for the physiological activation of all MMPs have not been clearly defined. Numerous studies indicate that members of the MMP family have the ability to activate one another. The activation of the MMPs in vivo is likely to be a critical step in terms of their biological behavior, because it is this activation that will tip the balance in favor of ECM degradation. The hallmark of diseases involving MMPs appear to be stoichiometric imbalance between active MMPs and TIMPs, leading to excessive tissue disruption and often degradation. Determination of the mechanisms that control this imbalance may open up some important therapeutic options of specific enzyme inhibitors.