Both collagenase-3 and osteocalcin mRNAs are expressed maximally during the later stages of osteoblast differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that collagenase-3 mRNA expression in differentiating MC3T3-E1 cells is dependent upon the presence of ascorbic acid, is inhibited in the presence of the collagen synthesis inhibitor, 3,4-dehydroproline, and is stimulated by growth on collagen in the absence of ascorbic acid. Transient transfection studies show that collagenase-3 promoter activity increases during cell differentiation and requires the presence of ascorbic acid. Additionally, we show that, in differentiating MC3T3-E1 cells, collagenase-3 gene expression increases in the presence of an anti-osteopontin monoclonal antibody that binds near the RGD motif of this protein, whereas osteocalcin expression is inhibited. Furthermore, an RGD peptidomimetic compound, designed to block interaction of ligands to the ␣ v integrin subunit, increases osteocalcin expression and inhibits collagenase-3 expression, suggesting that the RGD peptidomimetic initiates certain ␣ v integrin signaling in osteoblastic cells. Overall, these studies demonstrate that stimulation of collagenase-3 expression during osteoblast differentiation requires synthesis of a collagenous matrix and that osteopontin and ␣ v integrins exert divergent regulation of collagenase-3 and osteocalcin expression during osteoblast differentiation.When primary or clonal osteoblastic cells, such as MC3T3-E1 cells, are cultured with -glycerophosphate (-gly) 1 and ascorbic acid (AA), the cells undergo a differentiation process and eventually produce bone nodules resembling woven bone in vitro (1-4). Mineral deposition occurs in the final stages of osteoblast differentiation and is associated with maximal osteoblastic expression of osteocalcin and collagenase-3 (5-7). The mechanisms controlling osteoblast differentiation are unclear, but research suggests that a reciprocal interaction exists between the osteoblast and the surrounding extracellular matrix. For example, when osteoblasts or osteoblast-like cells are grown on plates pre-coated with collagen, they exhibit early signs of osteoblast maturation and osteoblastic gene expression (8 -12). Further accumulating data suggest that the extracellular matrix mediates many effects through activation of integrin signaling pathways in osteoblasts (12-14). Osteoblasts and osteoblast-like cells have been reported to express a wide variety of integrin receptor subunits, including ␣ 1 , ␣ 2 , ␣ 3 , ␣ 4 , ␣ 5 , ␣ v ,  1 , and  3 (15-17).Osteocalcin (OC), or bone gla protein, is a calcium-binding protein found in bone extracellular matrix and expressed by osteoblasts, odontoblasts, and hypertrophic chondrocytes (reviewed in Ref. 18). It has an affinity for hydroxyapatite, suggesting a role in the regulation of mineralization. In fact, OCnull mutant mice exhibit increased bone density (19), although defects in mineralization have been detected (20). Recent evidence suggests that the up-regulation of OC late in osteoblast diff...