FRET substrate for matrix metalloproteinases.

Mca-KPLGL-Dap(Dnp)-AR-NH2 is a broad spectrum fluorogenic FRET substrate suitable for matrix metalloproteinases including intestinal collagenase (MMP-1), neutrophil collagenase (MMP-8) collagenase 3 (MMP-13), gelatinase A (MMP-2), gelatinase B (MMP-9), matrilysin (MMP-7) and MMP-17. Mca-KPLGL-Dap(Dnp)-AR-NH2 is cleaved very poorly by neutrophil elastase, and not at all by trypsin. Mca-KPLGL-Dap(Dnp)-AR-NH2 was obtained by the addition of an N-terminal lysine to Mca-PLGL-Dap(Dnp)-AR-NH (PS-040) which improves substrate properties. It contains the highly fluorescent 7-methoxycoumarin (Mca) group that is efficiently quenched by resonance energy transfer to the 2,4-dinitrophenyl (Dnp) group. Mca-KPLGL-Dap(Dnp)-AR-NH2 is fully water soluble and allows measurement of metalloproteinase activity in tissue culture conditions such as on the surface of cells.