Category: METALLOPROTEINASE

Lumican aka LUM

Lumican, also known as LUM, is an extracellular matrix protein that, in humans, is encoded by the LUM gene on chromosome 12. Structure Lumican is a proteoglycan Class II member of the small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) family that includes decorin, biglycan, fibromodulin, keratocan, epiphycan, and osteoglycin. Like the other SLRPs, lumican has a molecular weight of about 40 kilodaltons and has four major intramolecular domains: There are four N-linked sites within…
Read more...

January 11, 2024
Osteopontin (OPN)

Osteopontin (OPN), also known as bone /sialoprotein I (BSP-1 or BNSP), early T-lymphocyte activation (ETA-1), secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), 2ar and Rickettsia resistance (Ric), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the SPP1 gene (secreted phosphoprotein 1). The murine ortholog is Spp1. Osteopontin is a SIBLING (glycoprotein) that was first identified in 1986 in osteoblasts. The family of non-collagenous proteins known as SIBLING proteins, standing for small integrin-binding ligand, N-linked glycoprotein, are components of the extracellular matrix of bone and dentin. Evidence shows that these proteins play key…
Read more...

December 29, 2023
Chymase and Chymosin – Rumored To Be Synonyms (and a little renin and rennin)

Chymase Alternative name for chymosin [“chymase .” A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition. . Encyclopedia.com. 25 Aug. 2022 https://www.encyclopedia.com] Mast Cell Chymase and Tryptase and some MMPs Chymase and tryptase are packaged in secretory granules together with histamine and other mediators in mast cells, which are infiltrated in rheumatoid synovium. Chymase is a chymotrypsin-like proteinase with a broad spectrum of activity against ECM components such as type VI collagen7 and aggrecan. It…
Read more...

August 25, 2022
What Is Metalloproteinase?

Metalloproteinase – the name alone screams “I’m here to ruin everything” – is a feral pack of enzymes armed with metal claws (zinc, mostly, because it’s the shiniest weapon in the elemental arsenal) that shred proteins like they’re auditioning for a slasher flick. These molecular psychopaths don’t just cut – they obliterate, turning the extracellular…
Read more...

August 21, 2022
What Are Plant Matrix Metalloproteinases?

Plant matrix metalloproteinases are metalloproteins and zinc enzymes found in plants. Matrix Metalloproteinase Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc endopeptidases, commonly called metzincins. MMP enzymes represent an ancient family of proteins with major similarities in genetic make-up that are present in a range of diverse organisms from unicellular bacteria to multicellular vertebrates and invertebrates. The superfamily is distinguished due to its motif consisting of three histidines bonded to…
Read more...

August 20, 2022
What are Matrix Metalloproteinases?

The MMPs belong to a larger family of proteases known as the metzincin superfamily.[ Matrix Metalloproteinases: Its implications in cardiovascular disorders] Collectively, these enzymes are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins, but also can process a number of bioactive molecules. They are known to be involved in the cleavage of cell surface receptors, the release of apoptotic ligands (such as the FAS ligand), and chemokine/cytokine inactivation.[Van…
Read more...

August 20, 2022