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Distribution of Collagenase in Rat Tissues

Abstract

THE demonstration, recently reported from this laboratory1–3, of a collagenolytic system in rat bone-cell homogenates raised several questions regarding its importance in the physiology and pathology of connective tissues4. Since the activity was largely confined to a subcellular particulate fraction exhibiting a number of the features of lysosomes2,3, it became important to know whether collagenase should be included in the growing list of hydrolases which seem to be characteristically contained in these bodies. By the same token it could be asked whether particle-bound collagenase was to be found equally in all tissues in which collagen turnover occurs or whether it was confined to bone-cells and thus had to be regarded as a part of a remodelling mechanism unique to bone.

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WOODS, J., NICHOLS, G. Distribution of Collagenase in Rat Tissues. Nature 208, 1325–1326 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1038/2081325a0

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