Partial purification and characterization of the high molecular weight latent collagenase from human leukocytes.

Two latent collagenases whose apparent molecular weights were ca. 150 000 and 60 000 have been detected in human leukocytes and the partial purification of the high molecular weight component was accomplished by the following steps: acetone precipitation, ammonium sulphate fractionation, gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200, chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose, and a final gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. After activation by an activator extracted from human rheumatoid synovial fluid, the enzyme was able to cleave collagen into the classical 1/4 and 3/4 fragments, and was inhibited by chelating agents and other typical collagenase inhibitors.