Two latent metalloproteases of human articular cartilage that digest proteoglycan

Human articular cartilage contains very low levels of metalloprotease activity; the activity in 1 g of cartilage is approximately equivalent to the activity of 1 microgram of trypsin. Development of a sensitive assay, based on the digestion of radioactive proteoglycan, has made it possible to study protease activity in 1-2-g specimens of cartilage. Cartilage was extracted with Tris buffer in the cold and with Tris buffer containing 10 mM CaCl2 at 60 degrees C. The extracts were passed through Sepharose 6B; two major and two minor metalloprotease activities were detected. A neutral metalloprotease activity, pH optimum 7.4, was found as a latent form of Mr = 56,000. It could be activated with aminophenylmercuric acetate or trypsin with a resultant decrease of Mr to 40,000. An acid metalloprotease, pH optimum 5.3, also occurred as a latent form of Mr = 50,000. Activation converted this to Mr = 35,000. Removal of calcium ions by dialysis reduced the activity of the neutral enzyme by 80-85% and of the acid enzyme by 100%. Both activities were restored by 10 mM Ca2+. Both enzymes were completely inhibited by 1 mM o-phenanthroline in the presence of excess calcium. This inhibition was overcome by 1 mM Zn2+ and, to a lesser extent, by Co2+. These proteases may be important in the metabolism of the cartilage matrix and in its destruction in osteoarthritis.