NOVEL METALLOPROTEASE HAVING AGGRECANASE ACTIVITY

摘要

A novel metalloprotease having an aggrecanase activity which causes joint diseases; a gene encoding this metalloprotease; a promoter of the above metalloprotease; a method of screening a drug with the use of the above metalloprotease; and compositions for inhibiting the degradation of proteoglycans which contain as the active ingredient a substance inhibiting the aggrecanase activity of the above metalloprotease.