No abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is one of a family of proteolytic enzymes that are involved in the remodelling of tissue during normal growth processes and is capable of degrading structural components of the extracellular matrix. Increases in MMP-2 expression and activity have been reported in diseases that involve degradation of the extracellular matrix. Reported here for the first time are the relative levels of expression of MMP-2 in tissues of the tree shrew along with 2587 bases of the mRNA sequence. Translation of this sequence predicts a protein 660 amino acids in length, containing all of the features expected of mammalian MMP-2. The tree shrew is a species close to the primate line and is an emerging animal model for a variety of human diseases, including hepatitis and myopia that feature MMP-2 mediated remodelling of the extracellular matrix.