Collagenolytic enzyme in solid Tawa sarcoma.

In order to demonstrate a collagenolytic enzyme in a tumor, solid Tawa sarcoma was subjected to a tissue culture technique. Salt- and acid-soluble collagen used as substrate was extracted from the rat skin and tail tendon. The tumor mass used was obtained on the 5th, 8th, and 11th days after subcutaneous transplantation of ascites Tawa sarcoma cells. Each tissue fragment in the inner and outer layers of the tumor mass was incubated on collagen gel at 37 degrees for 4 days, and collagenolytic activity was determined by comparing the relative content of hydroxyproline in the attacked collagen which was separated by means of centrifugation. All fragments were found to possess collagenolytic activity with some variation. Higher activity was observed in the outer layer than in the inner layer. Tumor fragments were cultured, and the collagenolytic enzyme was isolated from the culture medium and concentrated by ammonium sulfate precipitation and acrylamide disc electrophoresis. Collagenolytic enzyme activity was examined for its mode of attack on native collagen.