Identification of a metalloproteinase co-purifying with rat tumour collagenase and the characteristics of fragments of both enzymes.

A metalloproteinase similar or identical to stromelysin was shown to co-purify with interstitial collagenase from the rat mammary carcinoma cell line, BC1. The mixture of BC1 metalloproteinase and collagenase degraded casein, gelatin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, laminin, proteoglycan and type IV collagen, in addition to types I and II collagen. Using SDS-PAGE and zymography, the Mr of both enzymes was 51.10(3). During storage, the 51.10(3) protein converted to fragments of Mr 34.10(3) and 24.10(3), and isoelectric points of 4.6-5.3 and 5.7-6.0, respectively. The fragments were separated from the intact (Mr 51.10(3) enzymes by DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, but intact metalloproteinase and collagenase activities resisted separation by a range of chromatographic methods. The Mr 34.10(3) fragment retained the proteinolytic activities of the intact enzymes, excepting collagenase cleavage of collagen types I and II. The Mr 24.10(3) fragment had no proteinolytic activity, showed an increase in Mr of 6.10(3) upon reduction, in common with the intact enzymes, and also had similar chromatographic properties to the intact enzymes. The data presented are consistent with a pattern of breakdown which is common to both collagenase and the metalloproteinase, and suggest that both enzymes are comprised of two protein domains.