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Updated: May 27, 2026

Bacterial Expression and Purification of Human Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 using Affinity Chromatography
Published on: March 30, 2022
Human matrix metalloproteinases: an ubiquitarian class of enzymes involved in several pathological processes
Diego Sbardella1, Giovanni Francesco Fasciglione, Magda Gioia
1Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, University of Roma Tor Vergata, Roma, Italy.
Abstract:
Human matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) belong to the M10 family of the MA clan of endopeptidases. They are ubiquitarian enzymes, structurally characterized by an active site where a Zn(2+) atom, coordinated by three histidines, plays the catalytic role, assisted by a glutamic acid as a general base. Various MMPs display different domain composition, which is very important for macromolecular substrates recognition. Substrate specificity is very different among MMPs, being often associated to their cellular compartmentalization and/or cellular type where they are expressed. An extensive review of the different MMPs structural and functional features is integrated with their pathological role in several types of diseases, spanning from cancer to cardiovascular diseases and to neurodegeneration. It emerges a very complex and crucial role played by these enzymes in many physiological and pathological processes.
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