Matrix metalloproteinases in neural development:a phylogenetically diverse perspective
Christopher D. Small
Bryan D. Crawford
摘要：The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases originally charac-terized as secreted proteases responsible for degrading extracellular matrix proteins. Their canonical role in matrix remodelling is of signiifcant importance in neural development and regeneration, but emerging roles for MMPs, especially in signal transduction pathways, are also of obvious importance in a neural con-text. Misregulation of MMP activity is a hallmark of many neuropathologies, and members of every branch of the MMP family have been implicated in aspects of neural development and disease. However, while extraordinary research efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involving MMPs, methodological constraints and complexities of the research models have impeded progress. Here we discuss the current state of our understanding of the roles of MMPs in neural development using recent ex-amples and advocate a phylogenetically diverse approach to MMP research as a means to both circumvent the challenges associated with speciifc model organisms, and to provide a broader evolutionary context from which to synthesize an understanding of the underlying biology.
机标关键词：matrix metalloproteinasesmolecular mechanismsextracellular matrixsignal transduction
论文发表日期：2016-01-01
在线出版日期：2025-08-15（本平台首次上网日期，不代表文献的发表时间）
页数：6( 357-362 )
英文信息