G12 Family Proteins Upregulate Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 - Assignment Example

1. B) Based on figure b, the MMP-2 signal is very apparent when the mutated Ras, N17Ras, is absent. On the other hand, the MMP-2 signal is decreased in the presence of N17Ras. And since in the next figure, the absence of N17Ras was shown to increase the number of invaded cells per field, then it is highly likely that invasion can be attributed to the presence of MMP-2, which is Ras-dependent. Again, as mentioned in part A, N17Ras competes with the wild-type Ras in the latter’s interaction with the factors that lead to the upregulation of MMP-2 (Kin et al. 55)

These findings were determined using gelatin zymogram assay, as well as in vitro invasion and transwell migration assays. Particularly, gelatin zymogram assay determines the presence or absence of gelatinolytic activity of the conditioned media. This assay takes advantage of the inherent gelatinolytic activity of MMP-2 to determine the molecule's presence or absence. Thus, the liquidation of gelatin predicts the presence of MMP-2 (Kin et al. 55