MMP9

By Jamshed Arslan Pharm.D.

GPNMB is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with homology to the PMEL17 precursor, a melanocyte-specific protein. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms exist.GPNMB is expressed in minimally (but not highly) metastatic human melanoma cell lines and xenografts and may be involved in the delay and reduction of metastatic potential and growth.

MMP2 is a peptidase enzyme that belongs to the large family of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) with different substrate specificities. Aberrant and unregulated expression of MMPs via deregulation of key negative check controls is strongly associated with increased tumor invasiveness, metastasis potential, and angiogenesis. This uncontrolled behavior is in direct contrast to the tightly controlled physiological systems of embryonic development, tissue remodeling, and rebuilding.

The matrix metalloproteinases are zinc-dependent protease enzymes which interact with a range of ECM (extracellular matrix) proteins, and are activated by proteolytic cleavage. We at Novus Biologicals offer a wide range of top quality MMP reagents, including MMP3, MMP7, MMP9, MMP13 and MMP2 specific antibodies.

The enzymes of the Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP) family assist in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, under both normal and pathological conditions. MMP antibodies have identified roles in a number of physiological processes, such as embryonic development and tissue remodelling. They also regulate enzyme cascades, expression of various proteins and the migration of both normal and malignant cells.

Antibody suppliers, such as us at Novus Biologicals, supply a wide range of cell marker products, among them the Osteopontin antibody. Recently, the osteopontin antibody has proven useful in hepatic cancer research.

Osteopontin (OPN) is mainly expressed by the osteoblasts; its primary function is in the mineralization of bone. However, OPN is expressed to a lower degree in other areas of the body, being involved in cell adhesion, cell migration and the inflammatory response.

A large percentage of the products in our antibody catalog are used for cancer research. Some oncogenes are expressed in several types of tumor, while others are quite specific. For example, there are several products on our antibody database which target genes specific to nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC), such as UBAP1 and MMP9. Recently, a Chinese cancer study, which used no fewer than 10,000 volunteer subjects, uncovered 3 new susceptibility genes for NPC.