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.

Matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) cleaves types I, II, and III collagen triple helices into (3/4) and (1/4) fragments. To understand the structural elements responsible for this activity, various lengths of MMP-1 segments have been introduced into MMP-3 (stromelysin 1) starting from the C-terminal end. MMP-3/MMP-1 chimeras and variants were overexpressed in Escherichia coli, folded from inclusion bodies, and isolated as zymogens. After activation, recombinant chimeras were tested for their ability to digest triple helical type I collagen at 25 degrees C. The results indicate that the nine residues (183)RWTNNFREY(191) located between the fifth beta-strand and the second alpha-helix in the catalytic domain of MMP-1 are critical for the expression of collagenolytic activity. Mutation of Tyr(191) of MMP-1 to Thr, the corresponding residue in MMP-3, reduced collagenolytic activity about 5-fold. Replacement of the nine residues with those of the MMP-3 sequence further decreased the activity 2-fold. Those variants exhibited significant changes in substrate specificity and activity against gelatin and synthetic substrates, further supporting the notion that this region plays a critical role in the expression of collagenolytic activity. However, introduction of this sequence into MMP-3 or a chimera consisting of the catalytic domain of MMP-3 with the hinge region and the C-terminal hemopexin domain of MMP-1 did not express any collagenolytic activity. It is therefore concluded that RWTNNFREY, together with the C-terminal hemopexin domain, is essential for collagenolytic activity but that additional structural elements in the catalytic domain are also required. These elements probably act in a concerted manner to cleave the collagen triple helix.

Original publication

DOI

10.1074/jbc.M004039200

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Biol Chem

Publication Date

22/09/2000

Volume

275

Pages

29610 - 29617

Keywords

Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Binding Sites, CHO Cells, Collagen, Cricetinae, Enzyme Activation, Humans, Matrix Metalloproteinase 1, Molecular Sequence Data, Protein Conformation, Recombinant Fusion Proteins, Structure-Activity Relationship, Substrate Specificity