Latency of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) is regulated by the interaction of a free cysteine residue (Cys-75) in the conserved amino acid sequence Pro-Arg-Cys-Gly-Val-Pro-Asp located in the COOH-terminal portion of the propeptide with a chelated zinc atom in the active site of the catalytic domain. Proteolytic activation of full-length human pro-MMP-3 involves the removal of approximately 3...

PURPOSE To determine the organization of actin filaments and distribution of type I procollagen during the development of the chick corneal stroma. METHODS Embryonic chicken corneas of ages 6 to 18 days and 18 days posthatch were cryosectioned and fluorescently labeled for filamentous actin with phalloidin and for the N-and C-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen with specific monoclonal...

CD1e displays unique features in comparison with other CD1 proteins. CD1e accumulates in Golgi compartments of immature dendritic cells and is transported directly to lysosomes, where it is cleaved into a soluble form. In these latter compartments, CD1e participates in the processing of glycolipid antigens. In the present study, we show that the N-terminal end of the membrane-associated molecul...

Extracellular matrix components have rarely been the focus of interest in juvenile angiofibroma (JA) studies. Although JAs are known to be collagen-rich tumours, single collagens have not been analysed so far. This investigation aimed to study the expression of the fibrillar collagen types I, II and III in JAs using quantitative RT-PCR (n = 15), Western blot analysis (n = 7) and immunohistochem...

Fibrillar collagen molecules are synthesized as precursors, procollagens, with large propeptide extensions. While a homotrimeric form (three α1 chains) has been reported in embryonic tissues as well as in diseases (cancer, fibrosis, genetic disorders), collagen type I usually occurs as a heterotrimer (two α1 chains and one α2 chain). Inside the cell, the role of the C-terminal propeptides is to...

Human interleukin 1/$ (IL-1B) is synthesized as an inactive precursor that is cleaved by IL-1 converting enzyme (ICE) between Asp 116 and Ala 11y to form COOH-terminal mature IL-1/3 and NH2-terminal IL-1B propeptide. Little is known about the fate of the NH2-terminal cleavage product. In this study, human recombinant (hr)IL-1/3 propeptide (amino acids 2-116) was produced and used to prepare spe...

Bacillopeptidase F (Bpr) is a fibrinolytic serine protease produced by Bacillus subtilis. Its precursor is composed of a signal peptide, an N-terminal propeptide, a catalytic domain, and a long C-terminal extension (CTE). Several active forms of Bpr have been previously reported, but little is known about the maturation of this enzyme. Here, a gene encoding a Bpr (BprL) was cloned from B. subti...

BACKGROUND Pulmonary hypertension (PH) and collagen metabolism abnormalities are prevalent in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Peripheral endothelial dysfunction (PED) has been described in HF and in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Our aim is to determine whether PH is associated with PED and impaired collagen metabolism in patients with HFpEF.; METHODS A...

Concanavalin A (ConA) is a well characterized and extensively used lectin accumulated in the protein bodies of jack bean cotyledons. ConA is synthesized as an inactive precursor proConA. The maturation of inactive proConA into biologically active ConA is a complex process including the removal of an internal glycopeptide and a C-terminal propeptide (CTPP), followed by a head-to-tail ligation of...