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Updated: May 10, 2025

Detection of Functional Matrix Metalloproteinases by Zymography
Published on: November 8, 2010
Analysis of Metalloproteinase Secretion in Cancer Cells by Zymography
Javier de Jesus Vasconcelos-Ulloa1, Jesus Omar Medina-Cruz1, Octavio Galindo-Hernandez2
1Multidisciplinary Laboratory of Metabolic and Cancer Studies, Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Baja California (UABC), Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico.
Abstract:
The zymography assay is a semiquantitative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis technique that allows the separation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by molecular weight/charge and their detection through their ability to degrade substrates such as collagen (gelatin). The presence of MMPs can be analyzed in cell lysates and conditioned media, observing degradation bands of the gel copolymerized with gelatin. In addition, the size of the degradation bands present in the gel allows comparing the relative presence of MMPs in the analyzed samples. It is a simple and affordable method for the analysis of processes associated with tumor invasion.

