![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
Abstract
Bacterial collagenases are metalloproteinases involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrices of animal cells, due to their ability to digest native collagen. These enzymes are important virulence factors in a variety of pathogenic bacteria. Nonetheless, there is a lack of scientific consensus for a proper and well-defined classification of these enzymes and a vast controversy regarding the correct identification of collagenases. Clostridial collagenases were the first ones to be identified and characterized and are the reference enzymes for comparison of newly discovered collagenolytic enzymes. In this review we present the most recent data regarding bacterial collagenases and overview the functional and structural diversity of bacterial collagenases. An overall picture of the molecular diversity and distribution of these proteins in nature will also be given. Particular aspects of the different proteolytic activities will be contextualized within relevant areas of application, mainly biotechnological processes and therapeutic uses. At last, we will present a new classification guide for bacterial collagenases that will allow the correct and straightforward classification of these enzymes.
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the anonymous reviewer for his/her valuable comments and suggestions to improve the quality of the paper.
Declaration of interest
The authors report no declarations of interest. This work was partially supported by FEDER funding through COMPETE program and by national funds through FCT within the projects PROMETHEUS (PTDC/AGR-CFL/113831/2009 and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-014096) and PEst (PEst-C/MAR/LA0017/2013). FCT also financed the post-doctoral fellowship of Ana Cristina Esteves and Ana Sofia Duarte (BPD/38008/2007 and BPD/46290/2008).