Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Homodimerization of the membrane-bound collagenase MT1-MMP [membrane-type 1 MMP (matrix metalloproteinase)] is crucial for its collagenolytic activity. However, it is not clear whether this dimerization is regulated during cellular invasion into three-dimensional collagen matrices. To address this question, we established a fluorescence resonance energy transfer system to detect MT1-MMP dimerization and analysed the process in cells invading through three-dimensional collagen. Our data indicate that dimerization occurs dynamically and constantly at the leading edge of migrating cells, but not the trailing edge. We found that polarized dimerization was not due to ECM (extracellular matrix) attachment, but was rather controlled by reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton by the small GTPases, Cdc42 (cell division cycle 42) and Rac1. Our data indicate that cell-surface collagenolytic activity is regulated co-ordinately with cell migration events to enable penetration of the matrix physical barrier.

Original publication

DOI

10.1042/BJ20110424

Type

Journal article

Journal

Biochem J

Publication Date

15/12/2011

Volume

440

Pages

319 - 326

Keywords

Actin Cytoskeleton, Cell Line, Tumor, Cell Movement, Collagen, Enzyme Assays, Extracellular Matrix, Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer, Green Fluorescent Proteins, Humans, Matrix Metalloproteinase 14, Microscopy, Fluorescence, Protein Binding, Protein Multimerization, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Single-Cell Analysis, cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein, rac1 GTP-Binding Protein