Novel metalloprotease having aggrecanase activity

摘要

This invention provides a novel metalloprotease having an aggrecanase activity which causes joint diseases, a gene coding for this metalloprotease, a promoter of the above metalloprotease, a method for screening a drug with the use of the above metalloprotease and a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting degradation of proteoglycans, which comprises as the active ingredient a substance capable of inhibiting the aggrecanase activity of the above metalloprotease.