Mechanism of inhibition of the human matrix metalloproteinase stromelysin-1 by TIMP-1

Reactive site-modified tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 inhibits the cell-mediated activation of progelatinase A

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) is supposed to play a regulatory role in the cell-mediated activation of progelatinase A. To investigate the mechanism of the regulation, we prepared and characterized a chemically modified TIMP-2, and examined its effects on the activation of progelatinase A. We found that treatment of TIMP-2 with cyanate ion led to loss of inhibitory activity toward matrilysin or gelatinase A. Structural and functional analyses of the modified TIMP-2 showed that carbamylation of the alpha-amino group of the NH2-terminal Cys1 of TIMP-2 led to complete loss of the inhibitory activity. When the reactive-site modified TIMP-2 was added to culture medium of concanavalin A-stimulated HT1080 cells, the conversion of endogenous progelatinase A to the intermediate form was partially inhibited, whereas that of the intermediate form to the mature one was strongly inhibited. The reactive site-modified TIMP-2 also prevented an accumulation of active gelatinase A on the cell surface. We speculate that occupation of the hemopexin-like domain of gelatinase A by the reactive site-modified TIMP-2 makes it unable for gelatinase A to be retained on the cell surface, thus preventing the autocatalytic conversion of the intermediate form of gelatinase A to its mature form.

Residue 2 of TIMP-1 is a major determinant of affinity and specificity for matrix metalloproteinases but effects of substitutions do not correlate with those of the corresponding P1' residue of substrate

The unregulated activities of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in disease processes including arthritis and tumor cell invasion and metastasis. MMP activities are controlled by four homologous endogenous protein inhibitors, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), yet different TIMPs show little specificity for individual MMPs. The large interaction interface in the TIMP-1.MMP-3 complex includes a contiguous region of TIMP-1 around the disulfide bond between Cys1 and Cys70 that inserts into the active site of MMP-3. The effects of fifteen different substitutions for threonine 2 of this region reveal that this residue makes a large contribution to the stability of complexes with MMPs and has a dominant influence on the specificity for different MMPs. The size, charge, and hydrophobicity of residue 2 are key factors in the specificity of TIMP. Threonine 2 of TIMP-1 interacts with the S1' specificity pocket of MMP-3, which is a key to substrate specificity, but the structural requirements in TIMP-1 residue 2 for MMP binding differ greatly from those for the corresponding residue of a peptide substrate. These results demonstrate that TIMP variants with substitutions for Thr2 represent suitable starting points for generating more targeted TIMPs for investigation and for intervention in MMP-related diseases.

Identification of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) binding site on the hemopexin carboxyl domain of human gelatinase A by site-directed mutagenesis. The hierarchical role in binding TIMP-2 of the unique cationic clusters of hemopexin modules III and IV

Cell surface activation of progelatinase A occurs in a quaternary complex with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) and two membrane-type matrix metalloproteinases. We have mutated the unique cationic clusters found in hemopexin modules III and IV of the carboxyl domain (C domain) of human gelatinase A to determine their role in binding TIMP-2. Twelve single, double, and triple site-directed mutations were produced that exhibited different TIMP-2 binding properties. Notably, single alanine substitutions at Lys547 and Lys617 reduced TIMP-2 binding by an order of magnitude from that of the recombinant wild-type C domain. Mutations that completely disrupted the C domain.TIMP-2 interaction were K558A/R561A, K610T/K617A, and K566A/K568A/K617A. A triple mutation, K566A/K568A/K575A, having TIMP-2 binding indistinguishable from the wild-type C domain (Kd 3.0 x 10(-8) M), showed that simple reduction of net positive charge does not reduce TIMP-2 affinity. Because the double mutation K566A/K568A also did not alter TIMP-2 binding, these data do not confirm previously reported chimera studies that indicated the importance of the triple lysine cluster at positions 566/567/568 in TIMP-2 binding. Nonetheless, a subtle role in TIMP-2 interaction for the 566/567/568-lysine triad is indicated from the enhanced reduction in TIMP-2 binding that occurs when mutations here were combined with K617A. Thus, these analyses indicate that the TIMP-2 binding surface lies at the junction of hemopexin modules III and IV on the peripheral rim of the gelatinase A C domain. This location implies that considerable molecular movement of the TIMP-2. C domain complex would be needed for the bound TIMP-2 to inhibit in cis the gelatinase A active site.

Localization of matrix metalloproteinase 9 to the cell surface provides a mechanism for CD44-mediated tumor invasion

The cell surface hyaluronan receptor CD44 promotes tumor growth and metastasis by mechanisms that remain poorly understood. We show here that CD44 associates with a proteolytic form of the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) on the surface of mouse mammary carcinoma and human melanoma cells. CD44-associated cell surface MMP-9 promotes cell-mediated collagen IV degradation in vitro and mediates tumor cell invasion of G8 myoblast monolayers. Several distinct CD44 isoforms coprecipitate with MMP-9 and CD44/MMP-9 coclustering is observed to be dependent on the ability of CD44 to form hyaluronan-induced aggregates. Disruption of CD44/MMP-9 cluster formation, by overexpression of soluble or truncated cell surface CD44, is shown to inhibit tumor invasiveness in vivo. Our observations indicate that CD44 serves to anchor MMP-9 on the cell surface and define a mechanism for CD44-mediated tumor invasion.

Endoproteinase-protein inhibitor interactions

Nature uses protein inhibitors as important tools to regulate the proteolytic activity of their target proteinases. Most of these inhibitors for which 3D structures are available are directed towards serine proteinases, interacting with their active-sites in a substrate-like "canonical" manner via an exposed reactive-site loop of conserved conformation. More recently, some non-canonically binding serine proteinase inhibitors, two cysteine proteinase inhibitors, and three zinc endopeptidase inhibitors have been characterized in the free and complexed state, displaying novel mechanisms of inhibition with their target proteinases. These different interaction modes are briefly discussed, with particular emphasis on the interaction between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their endogenous tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs).

Transcriptional Suppression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Gene Expression in Human Astroglioma Cells by TNF-α and IFN-γ

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that function in the turnover of extracellular matrix components during development. In addition, MMPs also contribute to pathological conditions associated with inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor invasion. A 72-kDa type IV collagenase, also referred to as gelatinase A or MMP-2, has been proposed to potentiate the invasion and metastasis of malignant tumors. In particular, MMP-2 activity has been shown to constitute an important component of human astroglioma invasion. We investigated the influence of various cytokines, both proinflammatory and immunosuppressive, on MMP-2 gene expression in two human astroglioma cell lines (U251-MG and CRT). Our results indicate that the cell lines constitutively express high levels of MMP-2 mRNA, protein, and bioactivity as assessed by ribonuclease protection assay, immunoblotting, and zymography assays, respectively. The proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ individually can inhibit constitutive MMP-2 expression, and function in an additive manner for near-complete inhibition of MMP-2 expression. Inhibition of MMP-2 mRNA levels by TNF-α and IFN-γ is not due to destabilization of the MMP-2 message; rather, inhibition is mediated at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, TNF-α/IFN-γ inhibition of MMP-2 expression results in decreased invasiveness of the human astroglioma cells through an extracellular matrix. These results raise the possibility that TNF-α and IFN-γ may have beneficial effects in attenuating astroglioma invasive properties.

Three-dimensional structure of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 at 2.1 A resolution

The three-dimensional structure of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) was determined by X-ray crystallography to 2.1 A resolution. The structure of the inhibitor consists of two domains. The N-terminal domain (residues 1-110) is folded into a beta-barrel, similar to the oligonucleotide/oligosaccharide binding fold otherwise found in certain DNA-binding proteins. The C-terminal domain (residues 111-194) contains a parallel stranded beta-hairpin plus a beta-loop-beta motif. Comparison of the structure of uncomplexed human TIMP-2 with that of bovine TIMP-2 bound to the catalytic domain of human MMP-14 suggests an internal rotation between the two domains of approximately 13 degrees upon binding to the protease. Furthermore, local conformational differences in the two structures that might be induced by formation of the protease-inhibitor complex have been found. The most prominent of these involves residues 27-40 of the A-B beta-hairpin loop. Structure-based alignment of amino acid sequences of representatives of the TIMP family maps the sequence differences mainly to loop regions, and some of these differences are proposed to be responsible for the particular properties of the various TIMP species.

A matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor which prevents fibroblast-mediated collagen lattice contraction

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the specific tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in tissue turnover in normal and pathological processes including wound healing. Marimastat, a potent inhibitor of MMPs, was used to investigate the role of MMPs in an in vitro wound contraction model, the dermal equivalent, in which fibroblasts are grown in a collagen matrix. Marimastat inhibited fibroblast-mediated lattice contraction and this inhibition was reversible upon removal of the inhibitor, indicating that MMPs play an important role in fibroblast-mediated collagen lattice contraction, modelling what may happen when granulation tissue contracts in a healing wound.

Matrix metalloproteases: variations on a theme

The family of proteins called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a class of structurally related proteins that are collectively responsible for the metabolism of extracellular matrix proteins. These zinc and calcium dependent enzymes, which include the collagenases, stromelysins and gelatinases, are involved in normal tissue remodelling processes such as wound healing, pregnancy and angiogenesis. Under physiological conditions, in addition to the regulated proteolyses of inactive precursors to the active form, the degradative nature of these enzymes are precisely controlled by endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs). The excess syntheses and production of these proteins lead to the accelerated matrix degradation associated with diseases such as arthritis, cancer and multiple sclerosis. The MMPs have therefore proved to be attractive targets for structure based drug design. The pursuit of low molecular weight inhibitors of these proteins have encouraged structural studies on several members of family, so that the molecular details of enzyme-inhibitor interactions of the MMPs have become available. These studies provide insights into the basic structural framework of the MMP superfamily and reveal characteristics which promote specificity between individual members. The analyses of the three dimensional structure of the MMPs in the context of their primary sequence and the design and selectivity of low molecular weight inhibitors of the superfamily is the subject of this review.

Glycosylation and NH2-terminal domain mutants of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1)

Mutants in the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) protein have been created by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in HeLa cells, using a recombinant vaccinia virus system. Removal of either or both glycosylation sites yielded proteins which retained wild-type inhibitory activity against both human fibroblast-type collagenase (FIB-CL) and Mr 72000 gelatinase (GL). However, the double glycosylation mutant protein was expressed at a level that was 2-4-fold lower than that of the wild-type or the single site glycosylation mutants. The 'tiny-TIMP' COOH-terminal deletion mutant that lacks the last 57 residues was also inhibitory, but the dose-response curve suggested that the interaction with the Mr 72000 gelatinase had been altered. A number of replacement mutants in the highly conserved NH2-terminal domain, including replacement of P5A and P8A or a double mutation in the VIRAK sequence which is absolutely conserved in all TIMPs in all species (VIRAK to VIAAA), also yielded functional proteins capable of inhibiting FIB-CL and Mr 72000 GL and of forming SDS-resistant complexes with FIB-CL. None of the above manipulations abolished inhibitory function suggesting that binding of the inhibitor by the enzyme involves multiple interactions.

Elucidation of the mode of interaction of thermolysin with a proteinaceous metalloproteinase inhibitor, SMPI, based on a model complex structure and a structural dynamics analysis

SMPI is a proteinaceous microbial metalloproteinase inhibitor that was isolated from Streptomyces nigrescens TK-23 in 1979. SMPI is known to selectively inhibit the metalloproteinases in the gluzincin family, according to the Rawling and Barrett classification. There has been no report on the interaction of a metalloproteinase in the family of gluzincins with its specific proteinaceous inhibitor. We have solved the solution structure of SMPI by NMR. Here, we report the binding mode of SMPI to thermolysin, based on the model complex structure generated using our high-resolution NMR structure of SMPI and the crystal structure of thermolysin. The obtained complex model shows that the extruded loop of SMPI, with the scissile bond Cys64-Val65, is complementary in shape to the active cleft of thermolysin. In the complex, the Cys64 (P1) carbonyl oxygen atom can form a tetrahedral coordination to the active zinc in thermolysin, and simultaneously, the methyl groups of Val65 (P1') are closely located in the hydrophobic S1' pocket in thermolysin. From the electrostatic potential surface calculation, the active loop of SMPI and the active cleft in thermolysin have been shown to be complementary in the surface charge distribution, resulting in the stabilization of the complex. The apparently large active loop is less flexible, but maintains a conformation in the nano- to picosecond time-scale, as elucidated from the 15N spin relaxation analysis. This is a quite different structural feature of SMPI from the flexible binding loop generally found in the serine proteinase inhibitors, such as SSI and eglin c, and can be related to the narrow specificity of SMPI. The present study provides the first insight into the interaction between a proteinaceous inhibitor and a gluzincin metalloproteinase.

TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE) is inhibited by TIMP-3

TNF-alpha converting enzyme (TACE; ADAM-17) is a membrane-bound disintegrin metalloproteinase that processes the membrane-associated cytokine proTNF-alpha to a soluble form. Because of its putative involvement in inflammatory diseases, TACE represents a significant target for the design of specific synthetic inhibitors as therapeutic agents. In order to study its inhibition by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and synthetic inhibitors of metalloproteinases, the catalytic domain of mouse TACE (rTACE) was overexpressed as a soluble Ig fusion protein from NS0 cells. rTACE was found to be well inhibited by peptide hydroxamate inhibitors as well as by TIMP-3 but not by TIMP-1, -2 and -4. These results suggest that TIMP-3, unlike the other TIMPs, may be important in the modulation of pathological events in which TNF-alpha secretion is involved.

Crystal structure of the complex formed by the membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase with the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2, the soluble progelatinase A receptor

The proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) towards extracellular matrix components is held in check by the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The binary complex of TIMP-2 and membrane-type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP) forms a cell surface located 'receptor' involved in pro-MMP-2 activation. We have solved the 2.75 A crystal structure of the complex between the catalytic domain of human MT1-MMP (cdMT1-MMP) and bovine TIMP-2. In comparison with our previously determined MMP-3-TIMP-1 complex, both proteins are considerably tilted to one another and show new features. CdMT1-MMP, apart from exhibiting the classical MMP fold, displays two large insertions remote from the active-site cleft that might be important for interaction with macromolecular substrates. The TIMP-2 polypeptide chain, as in TIMP-1, folds into a continuous wedge; the A-B edge loop is much more elongated and tilted, however, wrapping around the S-loop and the beta-sheet rim of the MT1-MMP. In addition, both C-terminal edge loops make more interactions with the target enzyme. The C-terminal acidic tail of TIMP-2 is disordered but might adopt a defined structure upon binding to pro-MMP-2; the Ser2 side-chain of TIMP-2 extends into the voluminous S1' specificity pocket of cdMT1-MMP, with its Ogamma pointing towards the carboxylate of the catalytic Glu240. The lower affinity of TIMP-1 for MT1-MMP compared with TIMP-2 might be explained by a reduced number of favourable interactions.

High resolution structure of the N-terminal domain of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 and characterization of its interaction site with matrix metalloproteinase-3

The high resolution structure of the N-terminal domain of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (N-TIMP-2) in solution has been determined using multidimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy, with the structural calculations based on an extensive set of constraints, including 3132 nuclear Overhauser effect-based distance constraints, 56 hydrogen bond constraints, and 220 torsion angle constraints (an average of 26.9 constraints/residue). The core of the protein consists of a five-stranded beta-barrel that is homologous to the beta-barrel found in the oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide binding protein fold. The binding site for the catalytic domain of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (N-MMP-3) on N-TIMP-2 has been mapped by determining the changes in chemical shifts on complex formation for signals from the protein backbone (15N, 13C, and 1H). This approach identified a discrete N-MMP-3 binding site on N-TIMP-2 composed of the N terminus of the protein and the loops between beta-strands AB, CD, and EF. The beta-hairpin formed from strands A and B in N-TIMP-2 is significantly longer than the equivalent structure in TIMP-1, allowing it to make more extensive binding interactions with the MMP catalytic domain. A detailed comparison of the N-TIMP-2 structure with that of TIMP-1 bound to N-MMP-3 (Gomis-Ruth, F.-X., Maskos, K., Betz, M., Bergner, A., Huber, R., Suzuki, K., Yoshida, N., Nagase, H. , Brew, K., Bourne, G. P., Bartunik, H. & Bode, W. (1997) Nature 389, 77-80) revealed that the core beta-barrels are very similar in topology but that the loop connecting beta-strands CD (P67-C72) would need to undergo a large conformational change for TIMP-2 to bind in a similar manner to TIMP-1.

The crystal structure of the Leishmania major surface proteinase leishmanolysin (gp63)

BACKGROUND

Despite their medical importance, there is little available structural information for the surface antigens of infectious protozoa. Diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania are common in many developing countries. Human infection occurs during the bite of infected sandfilies, when Leishmania promastigote cells from the insect gut enter the bloodstream. Promastigotes in the blood parasitize macrophages, often causing serious disease. Leishmanolysin is the predominant protein surface antigen of promastigotes, and is assumed to have a key role during infection. Leishmanolysin is a membrane-bound zinc proteinase, active in situ. Similar molecules exist in other trypanomastid protozoa.

RESULTS

Two crystal forms of leishmanolysin were obtained from protein purified from promastigote membranes. A single lead derivative in both crystal forms was used to solve the structure. The structure reveals three domains, two of which have novel folds. The N-terminal domain has a similar structure to the catalytic modules of zinc proteinases. The structure clearly shows that leishmanolysin is a member of the metzincin class of zinc proteinases.

CONCLUSIONS

The unexpected metzincin features of the leishmanolysin structure suggest that the metzincin fold may be more widespread than indicated by sequence homologies amongst existing metzincin zinc proteinases. The similarity of the active-site structure to previously well characterized metzincin class zinc proteinases should aid the development of specific inhibitors. These inhibitors might be used to determine the function of leishmanolysin in the insect and during mammalian infection, and may aid the development of drugs for human leishmaniasis.

Matrix metalloproteinases

Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of highly regulated peptidases that are collectively responsible for the degradation of extracellular matrix during tissue remodeling. Dysregulated activity has long been implicated in the pathologies of cancer and arthritis, and the number of diseases more recently associated with these enzymes has been increasing. In the past year, new transgenic models of matrix metalloproteinase knockouts have been described, allowing the direct assessment of specific enzyme activity in particular disease models. In addition, more selective inhibitors with improved pharmacokinetic profiles have entered clinical trials, allowing the assessment of the safety and efficacy of this strategy.

Localization of the functional domains of human tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 and the effects of a Sorsby's fundus dystrophy mutation

A transient COS-7 cell expression system was used to investigate the functional domain arrangement of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3), specifically to assess the contribution of the amino- and carboxyl-terminal domains of the molecule to its matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitory and extracellular matrix (ECM) binding properties. Wild type TIMP-3 was entirely localized to the ECM in both its glycosylated (27 kDa) and unglycosylated (24 kDa) forms. A COOH-terminally truncated TIMP-3 molecule was found to be a non-ECM bound MMP inhibitor, whereas a chimeric TIMP molecule, consisting of the NH2-terminal domain of TIMP-2 fused to the COOH-terminal domain of TIMP-3, displayed ECM binding, albeit with a lower affinity than the wild type TIMP-3 molecule. Thus the functional domain arrangement of TIMP-3 is analogous to that seen in TIMP-1 and -2, namely that the NH2-terminal domain is responsible for MMP inhibition whereas the COOH-terminal domain is most important in mediating the specific functions of the molecule. A mutant TIMP-3 in which serine 181 was changed to a cysteine, found in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy, a hereditary macular degenerative disease, was also expressed in COS-7 cells. This gave rise to an additional 48-kDa species (possibly a TIMP-3 dimer) that retained its ability to inhibit MMPs and localize to the ECM. These data favor the hypothesis that the TIMP-3 mutations seen in Sorsby's fundus dystrophy contribute to disease progression by accumulation of mutant protein rather than by the loss of functional TIMP-3.

Comparative analysis of the noncollagenous NC1 domain of type IV collagen: identification of structural features important for assembly, function, and pathogenesis

Type IV collagen alpha1-alpha6 chains have important roles in the assembly of basement membranes and are implicated in the pathogenesis of Goodpasture syndrome, an autoimmune disorder, and Alport syndrome, a hereditary renal disease. We report comparative sequence analyses and structural predictions of the noncollagenous C-terminal globular NC1 domain (28 sequences). The inferred tree verified that type IV collagen sequences fall into two groups, alpha1-like and alpha2-like, and suggested that vertebrate alpha3/alpha4 sequences evolved before alpha1/alpha2 and alpha5/alpha6. About one fifth of NC1 residues were identified to confer either the alpha1 or alpha2 group-specificity. These residues accumulate opposite charge in subdomain B of alpha1 (positive) and alpha2 (negative) sequences and may play a role in the stoichiometric chain selection upon type IV collagen assembly. Neural network secondary structure prediction on multiple aligned sequences revealed a subdomain core structure consisting of six hydrophobic beta-strands and one short alpha-helix with a significant hydrophobic moment. The existence of opposite charges in the alpha-helices may carry implications for intersubdomain interactions. The results provide a rationale for defining the epitope that binds Goodpasture autoantibodies and a framework for understanding how certain NC1 mutations may lead to Alport syndrome. A search algorithm, based entirely on amino acid properties, yielded a possible similarity of NC1 to tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) and prompted an investigation of a possible functional relationship. The results indicate that NC1 preparations decrease the activity of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 3 (MMP-2, MMP-3) toward a peptide substrate, though not to [14C]-gelatin. We suggest that an ancestral NC1 may have been incorporated into type IV collagen as an evolutionarily mobile domain carrying proteinase inhibitor function.

Identification of mouse itih-4 encoding a glycoprotein with two EF-hand motifs from early embryonic liver

An essential feature of cell differentiation is the specificity of signal transduction events from extracellular cues, which are considered to be conferred by scaffold, anchoring and adaptor proteins. Our aim was to identify important scaffolding proteins required for liver development. Utilizing subtraction hybridization of embryonic liver cDNA libraries, here we report the full length cDNA sequence for mouse itih-4 (Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor H4). Itih-4 encodes a 942 amino acid protein containing two EF-hand (helix-loop-helix) motifs with an unique short loop, with a potential calcium-binding function. Itih-4 is expressed as a strong 3.1-kb transcript in liver, to a lesser extent in lung and heart tissue. RT-PCR demonstrates itih-4 mRNAs abundantly in liver, less in heart and brain, during mid-embryonic gestation. These results suggest that itih-4 is a potential regulator for extracellular matrix proteins and plays a role during early embryonic liver development.

Cloning and developmental regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) in Xenopus laevis early embryos

We cloned a cDNA encoding tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) from the frog Xenopus laevis. Similar to TIMP3 from other species, Xenopus TIMP3 has 188 residues including 12 conserved cysteines and Asn184, a putative site for N-linked sugars. Xenopus TIMP3 is 84% identical with human TIMP3. As shown by Northern blotting and RT-PCR, Xenopus TIMP3 mRNA is maternally inherited in eggs and midblastula (stage 8) embryos, downregulated in gastrula and then upregulated in neurula and pretailbud embryos. In select adult tissues, TIMP3 mRNA is present in heart, muscle, liver, skin, intestine and ovaries. These results suggest that TIMP3 is involved in the regulation of expression of matrix metalloproteinases in Xenopus early development and adult tissue remodeling.

The Leu-3 residue of Serratia marcescens metalloprotease inhibitor is important in inhibitory activity and binding with Serratia marcescens metalloprotease

Serratia marcescens metalloprotease inhibitor (SmaPI) is a proteinase inhibitor toward Serratia marcescens metalloprotease (SMP). In sequential deletion analysis of the N-terminal region of the SmaPI, SmaPIs starting at Ser-2 and Leu-3 residues, respectively, had nearly a full inhibitory activity toward SMP. However, SmaPI starting at Ala-4 residue showed severely decreased inhibitory activity. Furthermore, kinetic analysis demonstrated that SmaPI starting at the Ala-4 residue had an inhibition constant for SMP approximately fourfold higher than that of wild-type SmaPI. The interactions of Leu-3 with SMP contribute 0.73 kcal mol-1 to the overall stability of the SMP-SmaPI complex (8.44 kcal mol-1). To elucidate the detailed role of the Leu-3 residue in inhibitory activity of SmaPI, several site-directed mutations were introduced. The inhibitory activities of Leu-3 mutants in which the Leu-3 has been converted to Ala, Asp, Gly, Ile, Lys, Phe, or Pro were correlated with the hydrophobicities of substituted amino acids. About 0.3 kcal mol-1 is attributable to the side chain of the Leu-3 residue in the binding with SMP. From these results, it is suggested that (i) in contrast with the Erwinia chrysanthemi inhibitor, Gly-1 and Ser-2 of SmaPI are not critical and (ii) the hydrophobicity of Leu-3 may be important in its inhibitory activity and binding with SMP.

Crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human tumor necrosis factor-alpha-converting enzyme

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) is a cytokine that induces protective inflammatory reactions and kills tumor cells but also causes severe damage when produced in excess, as in rheumatoid arthritis and septic shock. Soluble TNFalpha is released from its membrane-bound precursor by a membrane-anchored proteinase, recently identified as a multidomain metalloproteinase called TNFalpha-converting enzyme or TACE. We have cocrystallized the catalytic domain of TACE with a hydroxamic acid inhibitor and have solved its 2.0 A crystal structure. This structure reveals a polypeptide fold and a catalytic zinc environment resembling that of the snake venom metalloproteinases, identifying TACE as a member of the adamalysin/ADAM family. However, a number of large insertion loops generate unique surface features. The pro-TNFalpha cleavage site fits to the active site of TACE but seems also to be determined by its position relative to the base of the compact trimeric TNFalpha cone. The active-site cleft of TACE shares properties with the matrix metalloproteinases but exhibits unique features such as a deep S3' pocket merging with the S1' specificity pocket below the surface. The structure thus opens a different approach toward the design of specific synthetic TACE inhibitors, which could act as effective therapeutic agents in vivo to modulate TNFalpha-induced pathophysiological effects, and might also help to control related shedding processes.

Matrix metalloproteinases and TIMPs: properties and implications for the rheumatic diseases

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a unique family of metalloenzymes, which, once activated, can destroy all the components of cartilage. MMPs are found in resorbing cartilage, bone, rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synovial fluid, and adjacent soft tissues. The active enzymes are all inhibited by tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). The relative amounts of active MMPs and TIMPs are important in determining whether cartilage is broken down in joint diseases. Conventional treatments for arthritis do little to affect the underlying joint destruction, but new drugs are now available that can specifically block active MMPs. These potent inhibitors prevent the destruction of cartilage both in vitro and in animal models of arthritis. Future trials in patients will test their effectiveness in the prevention of cartilage destruction.