Intracellular gelatinolytic activity in mouse tissues

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinases have traditionally been thought to act only extracellulary. However, increasing evidence has revealed intracellular localization as well as several alternative substrates and novel biological roles for these proteinases. The aims of this master thesis were to map intracellular localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in different tissues from mouse, determine if detected enzymes were active and investigate subcellular localization of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by the use of cell fractions from isolated cells.