Definition
noun, plural: gelatinases
(1) Pepsin B derived from pepsinogen B. It is similar to pepsin A but with more restricted specificity on B chain of insulin than pepsin A.
(2) A proteolytic enzyme in organisms that confer the ability to hydrolyze gelatin into smaller peptides or chains of amino acids.
(3) A group of matrix metalloproteinases, specifically MMP2 and MMP9, with gelatin-binding region in the catalytic domain.
Supplement
Gelatinases can be found in many bacteria that can hydrolyze gelatin. Examples of organisms that produce gelatinases are Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens.
In humans, MMP2 and MMP9 form a group of gelatinases capable of degrading type IV collagen and gelatin. They are involved in the normal proteolysis of extracellular matrix such as in embryonic development, tissue remodeling, and reproduction.
Related term(s):
- Fn-gelatinase
- Progelatinase
