Characterization of a metalloproteinase: A late stage specific gelatinase activity in the sea urchin embryo

✍ Scribed by John J. Robinson

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 102 KB
• Volume: 66
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0730-2312
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4644(19970901)66:3<337::aid-jcb6>3.0.co;2-q

✦ Synopsis

We have partially purified and characterized an 87 kDa gelatinase activity expressed in later stage sea urchin embryos. Cleavage activity was specific for gelatin and no cleavage of sea urchin peristome type I collagen, bovine serum albumin or casein was detected. Magnesium and Zn 21 inhibited the gelatinase and Ca 21 protected against inhibition. Ethylenediamine tetracetic acid, ethylenebisoxyethylenenitriol tetraacetic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline were inhibitory, suggesting that the gelatinase is a Ca 21 -and Zn 21 -dependent metalloproteinase. No inhibition was detected with serine or cysteine protease inhibitors and the vertebrate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, Batimastat, was also ineffective. The vertebrate MMP activator p-aminophenylmercuric acetate was without effect. These results allow us to identify both similarities and differences between echinoderm and vertebrate gelatinases. J.