Substrate recognition by gelatinase A: the C-terminal domain facilitates surface diffusion.

An investigation of gelatinase A binding to gelatin produced results that are inconsistent with a traditional bimolecular Michaelis-Menten formalism but are effectively accounted for by a power law characteristic of fractal kinetics. The main reason for this inconsistency is that the bulk of the gelatinase A binding depends on its ability to diffuse laterally on the gelatin surface. Most interestingly, we show that the anomalous lateral diffusion and, consequently, the binding to gelatin is greatly facilitated by the C-terminal hemopexin-like domain of the enzyme whereas the specificity of binding resides with the fibronectin-like gelatin-binding domain.

Crystal structure of the haemopexin-like C-terminal domain of gelatinase A.

The crystal structure of the haemopexin-like C-terminal domain of gelatinase A reveals that it is a four-bladed beta-propeller protein. The four blades are arranged around a channel-like opening in which Ca2+ and a Na-Cl+ ion pair are bound.

Mechanism of cell surface activation of 72-kDa type IV collagenase. Isolation of the activated form of the membrane metalloprotease.

Matrix metalloproteases are secreted by mammalian cells as zymogens and, upon activation, initiate tissue remodeling by proteolytic degradation of collagens and proteoglycans. Activation of the secreted proenzymes and interaction with their specific inhibitors determine the net enzymatic activity in the extracellular space. We have previously demonstrated that 72T4Cl can be activated by a plasma membrane-dependent mechanism specific for this enzyme. Here, we report purification of the membrane activator of 72T4Cl, which is a new metalloprotease identical to a recently cloned membrane-type matrix metalloprotease (MT-MMP). We demonstrate that activated MT-MMP acts as a cell surface tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 2 (TIMP-2) receptor with Kd = 2.54 x 10(-9) M. The activator.TIMP-2 complex in turn acts as a receptor for 72T4Cl (Kd = 0.56 x 10(-9) M, binding to the carboxyl-end domain of the enzyme. Activation of 72T4Cl on the cell membrane provides a basic mechanism for spatially regulated extracellular proteolysis and presents a new target for prognosis and treatment of metastatic disease. The activation, purified as a tri-molecular complex of MT-MMP.TIMP2.carboxyl-end domain of 72T4Cl, is itself an activated form of MT-MMP, posing the following question: what is the mechanism of the activator's activation?

Plasma membrane-dependent activation of the 72-kDa type IV collagenase is prevented by complex formation with TIMP-2.

Human 72-kDa type IV collagenase (72T4Cl) is secreted as a proenzyme that can form a specific stoichiometric complex with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases TIMP-2 via interaction with the carboxyl-terminal domain of the enzyme. Both complexed and free enzymes can be activated by treatment with organomercurials. The mechanism of the 72T4Cl activation under physiological conditions is not known. Here we describe a "plasma membrane-dependent" activation of inhibitor-free 72T4Cl and identify the first conversion intermediate as a 64-kDa species resulting from cleavage of the Asn37-Leu peptide bond in the presence of plasma membranes from 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced HT1080 cells. This reaction is specific for 72T4Cl in that a closely related proenzyme (92-kDa type IV collagenase) is resistant to activation under the same conditions. Formation of the 72T4Cl.TIMP-2 complex inhibits activation at the level of the initial Asn37-Leu cleavage. Addition of TIMP-1 has no effect on this reaction, but blocks the autocatalytic conversion of the Leu38 intermediate into a 62-kDa active enzyme with an amino-terminal Tyr81. Membrane-dependent activation of 72T4Cl is competitively inhibited in the presence of a 26-kDa peptide derived from the carboxyl-terminal domain of the enzyme. The results suggest that interaction of the carboxyl-terminal domain of the enzyme with a membrane-associated component(s) causes initiation of enzyme activation through an autoproteolytic mechanism.

Human 92 kDa type IV collagenase: functional analysis of fibronectin and carboxyl-end domains.

Two closely related secreted metalloproteases 72 and 92 kDa type IV collagenases (72- and 92T4Cl) consist of several structural domains, the functions of which are poorly understood. Both metalloproteases can bind to gelatin as well as form complexes with specific inhibitors in the proenzyme form. The biologic role of the proenzyme-inhibitor complex formation remained unclear. Here we summarize results demonstrating that the fibronectin-like domain of 92T4Cl mediates gelatin binding of the proenzyme, while the hemopexin like carboxy-terminal domain is essential for the complex formation of the proenzyme with TIMP. The formation of a 92T4Cl proenzyme complex with TIMP prevents dimerization, formation of the novel complex with ClI proenzyme, and activation of the 92T4Cl by stromelysin. Conversely, formation of the covalent 92T4Cl homodimer excludes the formation of a proenzyme-TIMP complex, thus allowing this form of enzyme to enter into the proteolytic cascade of activation. Both components of the 92T4Cl-ClI complex can be activated in a fashion similar to that of free enzymes, yielding a complex active against both gelatin and fibrillar collagen.

Interaction of 92-kDa type IV collagenase with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases prevents dimerization, complex formation with interstitial collagenase, and activation of the proenzyme with stromelysin.

Secreted metalloproteases initiating proteolytic degradation of collagens and proteoglycans play a critical role in remodeling of the connective tissue. Activation of the secreted proenzymes and interaction with their specific inhibitors TIMP and TIMP-2 are responsible for regulation of enzyme activity in extracellular space. We have previously demonstrated that 92- and 72-kDa Type IV procollagenases, in contrast to interstitial collagenase (ClI), form specific complexes with TIMP and the related inhibitor TIMP-2, respectively. The physiologic significance of the proenzyme-inhibitor complex and the mechanism of activation of Type IV collagenases remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that in the absence of TIMP, 92-kDa Type IV procollagenase (92T4Cl) can form a covalent homodimer and a novel complex with ClI. In the presence of TIMP, the formation of a 92T4Cl proenzyme complex with TIMP prevents dimerization, formation of the complex with ClI, and activation of the 92T4Cl proenzyme by stromelysin, a related metalloprotease. The proenzyme homodimer is unable to form a complex with TIMP. All TIMP-free forms of the proenzyme can be activated by stromelysin. The 92T4Cl-ClI complex can be activated to yield a complex active against both gelatin and fibrillar Type I collagen, suggesting a mechanism for cooperative action of two enzymes in reducing collagen fibrils to small peptides under physiologic conditions.

Mosaic structure of the secreted ECM metalloproteases and interaction of the type IV collagenases with inhibitors.

SV-40 transformed human lung fibroblasts and HT 1080 fibrosarcoma cells secrete a 92-kDa type IV collagenase (in addition to 72-kDa type IV collagenase identical to that found in macrophages, phorbol ester differentiated U937 cells, and keratinocytes. The expression of this protease is induced by the tumor promoter TPA, and interleukin-1 and was not detected in the parental human lung fibroblast. The 92-kDa preproenzyme has a predicted Mr of 78,426, including a 19 amino acid long hydrophobic signal peptide. The apparent discrepancy between the predicted molecular weight and the molecular weight of the secreted protein is due to a post-translational modification of the enzyme through glycosylation. The 92-kDa type IV collagenase consists of five distinct domains, including a unique 54 amino acid long collagen--like domain, and is a member of the secreted ECM metalloprotease gene family. Both the 72 and 92-kDa type IV collagenase contain a fibronectin-like collagen binding domain. The mosaic structure of the secreted ECM metalloproteases is a result of a recruitment of the functional units from ECM structural macromolecules into an enzyme protein in the process of evolution. The 92-kDa and 72-kDa type IV collagenase proenzymes form a noncovalent complex with inhibitors, which is activatable by APMA, yielding an enzymes with similar if not identical substrate specificity profile. Our results demonstrate that while the 92-kDa type IV collagenase forms a stoichiometric complex with TIMP, the 72-kDa type IV collagenase, purified from the same starting material, contains a novel 24-kDa inhibitor-TIMP-2.

Human 72-kilodalton type IV collagenase forms a complex with a tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases designated TIMP-2.

Simian virus 40 (SV40)-transformed human lung fibroblasts secrete both 72-kDa type IV collagenase and a closely related 92-kDa type IV collagenase that was not detected in the parental cell line. The 92-kDa type IV procollagenase purified from these cells exists in a noncovalent complex with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases, TIMP. Here we report that the 72-kDa type IV procollagenase purified from HRAS-transformed human bronchial epithelial cells, SV40-transformed lung fibroblasts, and normal skin fibroblasts exists in a stable but noncovalent stoichiometric complex with a 24-kDa inhibitor referred to here as "TIMP-2." TIMP-2 is closely related to TIMP, as demonstrated by comparison of the partial amino acid sequence of this protein to that of TIMP, although it does not cross-react with TIMP-specific antibody. The TIMP-2 inhibitor interacts with the 72-kDa type IV collagenase in preference to the 92-kDa type IV collagenase that forms a complex exclusively with TIMP. The 72-kDa type IV collagenase-TIMP-2 complex can be activated with organomercurials to yield a catalytically competent enzyme. Activation occurs concomitantly with autoproteolytic cleavage of the amino terminus of the protein and does not require dissociation of the complex. Both activity and activation of the complex can be completely inhibited by further addition of stoichiometric quantities of purified TIMP-2 or recombinant TIMP.

SV40-transformed human lung fibroblasts secrete a 92-kDa type IV collagenase which is identical to that secreted by normal human macrophages.

We have reported that SV40-transformed human lung fibroblasts secrete a 92-kDa metalloprotease which is not detectable in the parental cell line IMR-90. We now present the complete structure of this enzyme along with the evidence that it is identical to the 92-kDa metalloprotease secreted by normal human alveolar macrophages, phorbol ester-differentiated monocytic leukemia U937 cells, fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells, and cultured human keratinocytes. A similar, perhaps identical, enzyme can be released by polymorphonuclear cells. The preproenzyme is synthesized as a polypeptide of predicted Mr 78,426 containing a 19 amino-acid-long signal peptide and secreted as a single 92,000 glycosylated proenzyme. The purified proenzyme complexes noncovalently with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteases (TIMP) and can be activated by organomercurials. Activation with phenylmercuric chloride results in removal of 73 amino acids from the NH2 terminus of the proenzyme, yielding an active form capable of digesting native types IV and V collagen. The in vitro substrate specificity of the enzyme using these substrates was indistinguishable from that of the 72-kDa type IV collagenase. The 92-kDa type IV collagenase consists of five domains; the amino-terminal and zinc-binding domains shared by all members of the secreted metalloprotease gene family, the collagen-binding fibronectin-like domain also present in the 72-kDa type IV collagenase, a carboxyl-terminal hemopexin-like domain shared by all known enzymes of this family with the exception of PUMP-1, and a unique 54-amino-acid-long proline-rich domain homologous to the alpha 2 chain of type V collagen.

Tissue cooperation in a proteolytic cascade activating human interstitial collagenase.

We present a cascade of proteolytic events catalyzed by the proteases secreted by cultured keratinocytes and fibroblasts that results in the activation of interstitial procollagenase. Cultured human skin fibroblasts constitutively secrete interstitial collagenase and stromelysin as proenzymes. In contrast, interstitial collagenase found in serum-free skin organ culture conditioned medium is activated. Cocultivation of the major cellular components of skin organ culture, dermal fibroblasts and epidermal keratinocytes, induces activation of interstitial procollagenase and prostromelysin in the presence of plasminogen. This activation occurs through a urokinase-dependent pathway where added keratinocytes secrete the plasminogen activator urokinase, which converts plasminogen into plasmin. Plasmin is capable of activating purified procollagenase and prostromelysin. Plasmin-dependent activation of procollagenase generates an enzyme species, by amino-terminal processing, identical to those generated by limited proteolysis with trypsin or treatment with organomercurial compounds. Catalytic amounts of activated stromelysin can in turn convert plasmin- or trypsin-activated collagenase into a fully active enzyme by removal of approximately 15 amino acid residues from the carboxyl end of the enzyme. This results in a 5- to 8-fold increase in collagenase specific activity that is due to its proteolytic cleavage and not to the presence of the activator stromelysin. Stromelysin alone in both pro- and activated forms is not capable of efficient activation of human fibroblast interstitial procollagenase.

H-ras oncogene-transformed human bronchial epithelial cells (TBE-1) secrete a single metalloprotease capable of degrading basement membrane collagen.

H-ras-transformed human bronchial epithelial cells (TBE-1) secrete a single major extracellular matrix metalloprotease which is not found in the normal parental cells. The enzyme is secreted in a latent form of 72 kDa, which can be activated to catalyze the cleavage of the basement membrane macromolecule type IV collagen. The substrates in their order of preference are: gelatin, type IV collagen, type V collagen, fibronectin, and type VII collagen; but the enzyme does not cleave the interstitial collagens or laminin. This protease is identical to gelatinase isolated from normal human skin explants, normal human skin fibroblasts, and SV40-transformed human lung fibroblasts. Based on its ability to initiate the degradation of type IV collagen in a pepsin-resistant portion of the molecule, it will be referred to as type IV collagenase. This enzyme is most likely the human analog of type IV collagenase detected in several rodent tumors, which has the same molecular mass and has been linked to their metastatic potential. Type IV collagenase consists of three domains. Two of them, the amino-terminal domain and the carboxyl-terminal domain, are homologous to interstitial collagenase and human and rat stromelysin. The middle domain, of 175 residues, is organized into three 58-residue head-to-tail repeats which are homologous to the type II motif of the collagen-binding domain of fibronectin. Type IV collagenase represents the third member of a newly recognized gene family coding for secreted extracellular matrix metalloproteases, which includes interstitial fibroblast collagenase and stromelysin.

Human skin fibroblast stromelysin: structure, glycosylation, substrate specificity, and differential expression in normal and tumorigenic cells.

We have purified and determined the complete primary structure of human stromelysin, a secreted metalloprotease with a wide range of substrate specificities. Human stromelysin is synthesized in a preproenzyme form with a calculated size of 53,977 Da and a 17-amino acid long signal peptide. Prostromelysin is secreted in two forms, with apparent molecular masses on NaDodSO4/PAGE of 60 and 57 kDa. The minor 60-kDa polypeptide is a glycosylated form of the major 57-kDa protein containing N-linked complex oligosaccharides. Zymogen activation by trypsin results in the removal of 84 amino acids from the amino terminus of the enzyme generating a 45-kDa active enzyme species. Human stromelysin is capable of degrading proteoglycan, fibronectin, laminin, and type IV collagen but not interstitial type I collagen. The enzyme is not capable of activating purified human fibroblast procollagenase. Analysis of its primary structure shows that stromelysin is in all likelihood the human analog of rat transin, which is an oncogene transformation-induced protease. The pattern of enzyme expression in normal and tumorigenic cells revealed that human skin fibroblasts in vitro secrete stromelysin constitutively (1-2 micrograms per 10(6) cells per 24 hr). Human fetal lung fibroblasts transformed with simian virus 40, human bronchial epithelial cells transformed with the ras oncogene, fibrosarcoma cells (HT-1080), and a melanoma cell strain (A 2058), do not express this protease nor can the enzyme be induced in these cells by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Our data indicate that the expression and the possible involvement of secreted metalloproteases in tumorigenesis result from a specific interaction between the transforming factor and the target cell, which may vary in different species.

The activation of human skin fibroblast procollagenase. Sequence identification of the major conversion products.

Human skin collagenase is secreted by cultured fibroblasts in a proenzyme form and can be activated to a catalytically competent enzyme by a number of processes. All modes of activation studied lead to conversion of the proenzyme to a stable 42-kDa active enzyme, concomitant with removal of an 81-amino acid peptide from the amino-terminal end of the molecule. The sequence of events leading to the formation of this enzyme form has been determined by analyzing the primary structure of the conversion intermediates. Trypsin-induced activation of procollagenase occurs as a result of the initial cleavage of the peptide bond between Arg-55 and Asn-56, generating a major intermediate of 46 kDa. Treatment of the proenzyme with organomercurials, which have no intrinsic ability to cleave peptide bonds, initially results in activation of the enzyme without loss of molecular weight. This is followed by conversion to two lower molecular weight species of 44 and 42 kDa, the latter corresponding to the stable active enzyme form. The final cleavage producing this form of collagenase is not restricted to a single polypeptide bond but can occur on the amino-terminal side of any one of three contiguous hydrophobic residues, Phe-100, Val-101, Leu-102. The data suggest that both trypsin and organomercurials activate procollagenase by initiating an intramolecular autoproteolytic reaction resulting in the formation of a stable 42-kDa active enzyme species.