lo prote in ase - 2 ▁( M MP - 2 ) ▁and ▁gel atin ase ▁A ▁ ▁is ▁an ▁en zym e ▁that ▁in ▁humans ▁is ▁encoded ▁by ▁the ▁M MP 2 ▁gene . ▁The ▁M MP 2 ▁gene ▁is ▁located ▁on ▁chrom os ome ▁ 1 6 ▁at ▁position ▁ 1 2 . 2 . ▁ ▁Function ▁ ▁Prote ins ▁of ▁the ▁matrix ▁metal lo prote in ase ▁( M MP ) ▁family ▁are ▁involved ▁in ▁the ▁break down ▁of ▁ext rac ell ular ▁matrix ▁( EC M ) ▁in ▁normal ▁phys i ological ▁processes , ▁such ▁as ▁emb ry onic ▁development , ▁reprodu ction , ▁and ▁t issue ▁rem od eling , ▁as ▁well ▁as ▁in ▁disease ▁processes , ▁such ▁as ▁ar th rit is ▁and ▁met ast asis . ▁Most ▁M MP ' s ▁are ▁secret ed ▁as ▁in active ▁pro prote ins ▁which ▁are ▁activ ated ▁when ▁cle aved ▁by ▁ext rac ell ular ▁protein ases . ▁This ▁gene ▁enc odes ▁an ▁en zym e ▁which ▁de gr ades ▁type ▁IV ▁col lagen , ▁the ▁major ▁struct ural ▁component ▁of ▁bas ement ▁memb ran es . ▁The ▁en zym e ▁plays ▁a ▁role ▁in ▁end omet rial ▁men stru al ▁break down , ▁reg ulation ▁of ▁v asc ular ization ▁and ▁the ▁infl am mat ory ▁response . ▁The ▁role ▁of ▁M MP 2 ▁in ▁l ym ph ang i ogen esis ▁was ▁considered ▁in ▁a ▁mod elling ▁and ▁theoretical ▁study ; ▁M MP 2 ▁de gr ades