Matrix Metalloproteinases Flashcards
What are matrix metalloproteinases?
- Enzymes that catalyse the degradation of matrix components of connective tissue.
- They have a role in normal processes (e.g. tissue remodelling and wound healing)
- Loss of activity control→ role in pathological conditions (e.g., arthritis, CVD, cancer, Multiple Sclerosis)
Describe the ECM
- Extracellular space consists of network of macromolecules which makes up the extracellular matrix (ECM).
- ECM is an organised meshwork of proteins and polysaccharides secreted locally by cells in the matrix (mainly fibroblasts). Its function is to provide a structural scaffold.
Two main classes of extracellular macromolecules make up the ECM:
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) + proteins = proteoglycan (e.g. aggrecan and decorin) i.e. carbohydrate-containing molecules (also called proteoglycans)
- Fibrous proteins (e.g., collagen, elastin, fibronectin and laminin). These have structural and adhesive functions.
A schematic view of Proteoglycans
A more 3-dimensional impression of the nature of the ECM
Describe the properties of collagen
- A family of fibrous proteins
- Act to hold cells together, provide tensile strength and elasticity
- Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals
- Left-handed helix with a repeating sequence
- Triple stranded helical structure
- Depending on tissue, the fibres of collagen are arranged differently to give 16 different forms in humans.
- Type I is most common
- Type IV is found in basement membranes
Describe the structure of collagen
- Long, rigid, triple helix structure
- 3 polypeptide chains form a rope like superhelix
- Rich in proline and glycine
- Proline – stabilizes and confers rigidity
- Glycine – allows tight conformation
- It has a repeating sequence: Gly-X-Y, where X = proline and Y = hydroxyproline or hydroxylysine (pro, pro-OH, lys-OH)
Describe collagen in the ECM
- Collagen synthesis and degradation is very important in tissue remodelling
- Tissue remodelling is a physiological process (needed in development and wound healing) but can contribute to disease also.
There are 25 recognized members of the MMP family in vertebrates that can be divided into 6 groups:
i. Collagenases (MMP1, 8, 13 and 18)
ii. Gelatinases (MMP2, 9)
iii. Stromelysins (MMP3, 10)
iv. Matrilysins (MMP7, 26)
v. Membrane-Type MMPs (14, 15, 16, 17, 24 and 25)
vi. Others (MMP 12, 19, 20)
Note that the numbers are not sequential, as some were “discovered” and then found to be the same as others, or not MMPs.
What were the first members of MMPs identified?
Collagenases
What are the function and structure of MMPs?
- They are proteases (also called proteinases)
- Specifically, zinc-dependent endopeptidases that hydrolyse peptide bonds
- The Zn is bound to 3 His residues and is involved in the catalytic mechanism which is thought to be a base hydrolysis of a peptide bond in the substrate. The Zn interacts with a catalytic glutamate in the active site.
Describe the structural domains in MMP
- All MMPs contain a propeptide and a catalytic (C) domain
- The propeptide maintains the enzyme in an inactive state
- The catalytic domain contains a Zn binding domain and confers substrate specificity
- The Fibronectin domains anchor the enzyme to the ECM
Explain the structural domain in MMP
- S = signal peptide, which directs the propeptide to the secretory pathway or the cell membrane for insertion (if it’s a membrane-bound form) – lost on maturation.
- Pro = propeptide (cleaved during activation of the zymogen); contains a cysteine residue that binds to the Zn in the catalytic domain and prevents it from being active.
- V = vitronectin insert
- Cat = catalytic domain, which includes the Zn binding site, and sometimes also Fn domains
- Fn = fibronectin domain
- Hpx = hemopexin domain, responsible for substrate binding and specificity
- I = type I transmembrane domain
- II = type II transmembrane domain
- Ca = cysteine array region (NOT Ca2+ binding)
- G = GPI anchor (for membrane-linked MMPs)
- Ig = IgG-like domain
There is commonly a hinge region between the catalytic domain and the substrate-binding domain, which may be up to 75 residues in length.