Figure 4.

Model for MCSP mediated activation of MMPs on melanoma cells. Shown is a working model for how MCSP might act to stimulate melanoma invasion mediated by MT3-MMP. We have determined that MT3-MMP binds to MCSP via a CS-dependent mechanism. Based on other studies examining MT1-MMP mediated activation of pro-MMP-2, we propose that MCSP may act to assemble activation complexes of MT3-MMP, pro-MMP2 and possibly TIMP-2 on the cell surface, leading to activation of proMMP-2 and enhanced tumor invasion.