Extra-and intracellular imaging of human matrix metalloprotease 11 (hMMP-11) with a cell-penetrating FRET substrate

Abstract

Background: Matrix metalloprotease 11 induces tumorigenesis and promotes invasive tissue behavior. Its function is hardly understood. Results: MMP-11 activatable cell-permeable FRET substrates were developed and tested in vitro, visualizing MMP-11 activity. Conclusion: Rational design of FRET substrates yielded new imaging tools for MMP-11. Significance: MMP-11 imaging can assist functional studies, investigating native substrates, or interaction partners of MMP-11. © 2012 by The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.