DEFINITION

Collagenase I (EC 3.4.24.3), isolated from Clostridium histolyticum and encoded by the colG gene (GenBank accession number BAA77453.1), is a key raw material used in the dissociation or destruction of a broad range of tissue types. Collagenase I is a metalloprotease that acts as an endoprotease and also exhibits a tripeptidylcarboxypeptidase activity. It shows endopeptidic activity with the main cleavage site found in front of the human collagen duplex amino acids glycine–proline. Hydrolysis takes place near the ends of the triple helical domains of collagen.