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. 2013 May 30;9(5):e1003086. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1003086

Figure 8. The dynamics of MT1-MMP for degrading ECM at invadopodia.

Figure 8

There are two docking sites in the invadopodial membrane to which MT1-MMPs are inserted (pools D and X). The turnover rates of MT1-MMP in pools D and X are 26.0 sec and 259 sec, respectively, and MT1-MMP to these pools is transported to these pools by vesicular trafficking. MT1-MMP inserted into these pools is subjected to ECM degradation and also to inhibition by the endogenous inhibitor TIMP-2. The present study has shown a quick inhibition by TIMP-2, and hence the half-life for newly inserted MT1-MMP to maintain ECM-degrading activity is only about 4 sec depending on the TIMP-2 concentration. This short life-time is compensated by the quick turnover of MT1-MMP resulting in the effective degradation of ECM at invadopodia.