Human membrane type-2 matrix metalloproteinase is defective in cell-associated activation of progelatinase A

Transfection of the mouse membrane type-2 matrix metalloproteinase (MT2-MMP) gene into COS-1 cells resulted in activation of progelatinase A; however, that of the human gene had no effect. Expression of human and mouse MT2-MMP chimeric proteins revealed the defect of human MT2-MMP which resides in the region between amino acid (aa) residues 155 and 271. Seven aa residues in this region were not conserved between human and mouse MT2-MMP. Substitution with the corresponding mouse residue, proline-183 to serine and glutamine-185 to aspartic acid, recovered cell-associated progelatinase A activation function. These residues are located in the insertion sequence-2 (IS-2), which was conserved in six clones of the human MT2-MMP gene from different sources, except that of proline-183 which was substituted with serine from HT1080 cells. These results indicate that human MT2-MMP is defective in cell-associated activation of progelatinase A, and this is attributed to IS-2. These findings emphasize the importance of IS-2 in MT2-MMP functionality.