Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) modulate cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions and the membrane-type MMPs (MT-MMPs) are especially important for pericellular proteolysis. Understanding the activity, regulation, and function of MT-MMPs would provide important insight for ongoing research in many diseases including cancer, fibrosis, and autoimmune diseases. In this chapter, we introduce the methods to express and purify recombinant MT-MMPs usingEscherichia colior mammalian cells, as well as how to detect the activity of MT-MMPs in proMMP-2 activation using gelatin zymography.
