DIRECT EXTRACTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ANIMAL COLLAGENASE FROM HUMAN RADICULAR CYSTS

Abstract

High animal collagenase (EC 3.4.24.7) activity was detected together with gelatinolytic activity directly in human radicular cyst fluids and in 4 M urea extracts of cyst wall tissues. Both Both cyst wall and cyst fluid collagenases were essentially in latent form and were most effectively activated by p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA). Both APMA-activated collagenases broke down type I collagen preferentially to type III collagen resembling these of polymorphonuclear leukocyte origin.