Figure 7. Reduction in the ECM-degradation efficacy by a reduced turnover rate and/or reduced concentration of MT1-MMP.

The degradation efficacy is defined as 1/τ_h and plotted as normalized values at the control condition (reduction factor = 1). A larger degradation efficacy indicates a faster degradation of ECM. At the same reduction factor, the reduction in degradation efficacy was higher for a reduced concentration (conc.) than for a reduced turnover rate (turnover). If both were reduced simultaneously, however, an unexpectedly larger reduction in the ECM reduction was observed (turnover+conc.).