Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Mott, Joni D
• Werb, Zena

Titel

Regulation of matrix biology by matrix metalloproteinases

Ist Teil von

• Current opinion in cell biology, 2004-10, Vol.16 (5), p.558-564

Ort / Verlag

England: Elsevier Ltd

Erscheinungsjahr

2004

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases that contribute to growth, development and wound healing as well as to pathologies such as arthritis and cancer. Until recently, it has been thought that MMPs participate in these processes simply by degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. However, it is now clear that MMP activity is much more directed and causes the release of cryptic information from the ECM. By precisely cleaving large insoluble ECM components and ECM-associated molecules, MMPs liberate bioactive fragments and growth factors and change ECM architecture, all of which influence cellular behavior. Thus, MMPs have become a focal point for understanding matrix biology.