The left ventricular (LV) myocardial collagen matrix has been proposed to participate in the maintenance of LV geometry. Thus alterations in the composition of the LV myocardial collagen matrix may influence LV function. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes that contribute to extracellular remodeling in several disease states. However, the types of MMPs expressed in the ...

In the N-degron pathway of protein degradation Escherichia coli, N-recognin ClpS identifies substrates bearing N-terminal phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, or leucine and delivers them to caseinolytic protease (Clp). Chloroplasts contain Clp system, but whether chloroplastic ClpS1 adheres same constraints is unknown. Moreover, structural underpinnings substrate recognition are not completely...

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a crucial role in growth-plate vascularization and ossification by processes involving proteolytic cleavage and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their regulation in the growth plate is crucial for normal vs. impaired matrix assembly. Tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), a prevalent skeletal abnormality in avian species, is characterized by the formati...

BACKGROUND Proteolytic enzyme activity in lipid-rich atheroma may promote plaque rupture and precipitate acute coronary syndromes. This study tested the hypothesis that lipid lowering stabilizes plaques by reducing proteolytic activity. METHODS AND RESULTS We produced experimental atheroma in 33 rabbits by balloon injury and an atherogenic diet (0.3% cholesterol and 4.7% coconut oil) for 4 mo...

Introduction: Although herniated disc (HD) is rarely a fatal disorder, HD related symptoms are pervasive. The granulation tissues of HD are composed of a prominent infiltration of macrophages, neovascularization, and disc cells. Previously, we have determined that infiltrated macrophages and disc cells express the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) and MMP-7 (matrilysin), whi...

The 20S proteasome (multicatalytic proteinase) was purified from maize (Zea mays L. cv DEA 1992) roots through a five-step procedure. After biochemical characterization, it was shown to be similar to most eukaryotic proteasomes. We investigated the involvement of the 20S proteasome in the response to carbon starvation in excised maize root tips. Using polyclonal antibodies, we showed that the a...