collagenase

1 8.8

An enzyme that breaks down collagen in skin and other tissues

noun
/ˌkɒləˈdʒeɪneɪs/

Specialized

: colagenasa

When the usual treatment (injections of collagenase and other collagen-dissolving enzymes) did exactly nothing, the doctors could only scratch their heads.
collagenase, an enzyme

Examples

The enzyme collagenase is representative of a group of connective tissue metalloproteinases responsible for collagen breakdown.

Academic text (1995)
A blast of telomerase might keep fibroblasts in the skin's dermis layer at a more youthful stage, in which they synthesize collagen and elastin rather than collagenase.

Academic text (1998)
Fibroblasts in aging skin make less collagen and elastin and more collagenase, causing wrinkles.

Academic text (1998)
The neurons were dissociated with collagenase type IV (Sigma) and 0.1% trypsin (Worthington) and centrifuged through a 15% BSA density.

Academic text (2016)
The enzyme collagenase breaks down collagen and is used in various medical treatments.
Researchers found that collagenase can effectively dissolve collagen in damaged tissues.
Therapies using collagenase show promise in improving the healing of wounds by promoting collagen breakdown.

Synonyms

proteolytic enzyme

vscollagenase

Specialized

1 4.4

A substance that breaks proteins into smaller parts living things can use

targets mainly collagen and gelatin rather than most proteins

Surface Forms

collagenase singular

collagenases plural

Morphology

collagenase = collagen (transparent) = collagen + ase

The formation 'collagen' + the enzyme-forming suffix '-ase' directly denotes an enzyme acting on collagen and is straightforward for learners familiar with basic scientific naming.

Etymology

The word collagenase comes from collagen, which comes from the old Greek kolla meaning 'glue', plus the enzyme ending -ase. So, collagenase is an enzyme that breaks down the glue that holds our tissues together.