Hello Annalisa

Indeed, for your application you should avoid the "crude" collagenase preparations typically used for tissue dissociation.

Sigma has a useful collagenase guide that can help you select the best preparation for your specific experiments: http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/metabolomics/enzyme-explorer/learning-center/collagenase-guide.html

I'm not privy to the details of your study, but based on what you are saying, I believe that the "chromatograhically purified collagenases" shown in the guide may be the best option. Of course, they will be more expensive.

Good luck!

Best Regards,

Mark

Hello Annalisa

for initial degradation try with amylase.

Good luck

srini

Dear Annalisa,

I recommend to do a lit search what enzymes are typically present in a wound. Firstly, different types of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) come to mind (this includes the group of collagenases, as well).  Just google "collagenases in wound healing" and then grab some reviews.  Clostridial collagenase is bacterial and therefore hacks collagen in numerous fragments; that is is not how vertebrate collagenases work. If you have clostridium in your wound, you are in a bad way !! You need to source for mammalian collagenases in excellent quality , for example I used Worthington as provider. It also depends what your collagen film is made of, is it already partially degraded collagen ? Amylase catalyses the hydrolysis of starch into sugars. The MMP's that come to mind are MMP2 and 9. , again, depends what your film is emulating. Cheers, Michael

Hi Annalisa,

I would like to know if you tested any MMP for degradation of thin films of collagen. I am doing my PhD using thin films of collagen and also need to test its degradation and I am currently studying the possibilities, preferably using an enzyme produced by mammalian cells.

Thanks in advance!