72 kDa type IV collagenase also known as matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and gelatinase A is an enzyme

Enzyme

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze chemical reactions. In enzymatic reactions, the molecules at the beginning of the process, called substrates, are converted into different molecules, called products. Almost all chemical reactions in a biological cell need enzymes in order to occur at rates...

 that in humans is encoded by the MMP2 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Proteins of the matrix metalloproteinase

Matrix metalloproteinase

Matrix metalloproteinases are zinc-dependent endopeptidases; other family members are adamalysins, serralysins, and astacins. The MMPs belong to a larger family of proteases known as the metzincin superfamily....

 (MMP) family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix

Extracellular matrix

In biology, the extracellular matrix is the extracellular part of animal tissue that usually provides structural support to the animal cells in addition to performing various other important functions. The extracellular matrix is the defining feature of connective tissue in animals.Extracellular...

 in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes, such as arthritis

Arthritis

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....

 and metastasis

Metastasis

Metastasis, or metastatic disease , is the spread of a disease from one organ or part to another non-adjacent organ or part. It was previously thought that only malignant tumor cells and infections have the capacity to metastasize; however, this is being reconsidered due to new research...

. Most MMP's are secreted as inactive proproteins which are activated when cleaved by extracellular proteinases. This gene encodes an enzyme which degrades type IV collagen

Collagen

Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...

, the major structural component of basement membrane

Basement membrane

The basement membrane is a thin sheet of fibers that underlies the epithelium, which lines the cavities and surfaces of organs including skin, or the endothelium, which lines the interior surface of blood vessels.- Composition :...

s. The enzyme plays a role in endometrial menstrual breakdown, regulation of vascularization and the inflammatory response.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the MMP2 gene are associated with Torg-Winchester syndrome

Winchester syndrome

Winchester syndrome in a rare congenital connective tissue disease described in 1969, of which the main characteristics are short stature, marked contractures of joints, opacities in the cornea, a coarse face, dissolution of the carpal and tarsal bones and osteoporosis. Appearances resembled...

, multicentric osteolysis

Osteolysis

Osteolysis refers to an active resorption of bone matrix by osteoclasts as part of an ongoing disease process.-Osteolysis in joint replacement:...

 and arthritis

Arthritis

Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....

 syndrome.

Interactions

MMP2 has been shown to interact

Protein-protein interaction

Protein–protein interactions occur when two or more proteins bind together, often to carry out their biological function. Many of the most important molecular processes in the cell such as DNA replication are carried out by large molecular machines that are built from a large number of protein...

 with THBS2

THBS2

Thrombospondin-2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the THBS2 gene.-Further reading:...

, TIMP2

TIMP2

TIMP metallopeptidase inhibitor 2, a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, also known as TIMP2, is a human gene, thought to be a metastasis suppressor.-Interactions:TIMP2 has been shown to interact with MMP14 and MMP2.-External Links:...

, Thrombospondin 1

Thrombospondin 1

Thrombospondin 1, also known as THBS1, is a protein that in humans in encoded by the THBS1 gene.Thrombospondin 1 is a subunit of a disulfide-linked homotrimeric protein. This protein is an adhesive glycoprotein that mediates cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix interactions. This protein can bind to...

, CCL7

CCL7

Chemokine ligand 7 is a small cytokine known as a chemokine that was previously called monocyte-specific chemokine 3 . Due to CCL7 possessing two adjacent N-terminal cysteine residues in its mature protein, it is classified among the subfamily of chemokines known as CC chemokines. CCL7...

 and TIMP4

TIMP4

Metalloproteinase inhibitor 4 is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the TIMP4 gene.-External Links:* The MEROPS online database for peptidases and their inhibitors:...

.

External links

• The MEROPS
  Merops
  Merops may refer to:* Merops , a genus of bee-eaters.* MEROPS, an on-line database for peptidases.It may also refer to several figures from Greek mythology:* King of Ethiopia, husband of Clymene, who lay with Helios and bore Phaethon...
  
  online database for peptidases and their inhibitors: M10.003