Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinases play an important role in extracellular matrix remodeling.
Excessive activity of these enzymes can be induced by UV light and leads to skin damage,
a process known as photoaging. In this study, we investigated the collagenase inhibition
potential of mycosporine-like amino acids, compounds that have been isolated from
marine organisms and are known photoprotectants against UV-A and UV-B. For this purpose,
the commonly used collagenase assay was optimized and for the first time validated
in terms of relationships between enzyme-substrate concentrations, temperature, incubation
time, and enzyme stability. Three compounds were isolated from the marine red algae
Porphyra sp. and Palmaria palmata, and evaluated for their inhibitory properties against Chlostridium histolyticum collagenase. A dose-dependent, but very moderate, inhibition was observed for all
substances and IC50 values of 104.0 µM for shinorine, 105.9 µM for porphyra, and 158.9 µM for palythine
were determined. Additionally, computer-aided docking models suggested that the mycosporine-like
amino acids binding to the active site of the enzyme is a competitive inhibition.
Key words
collagenase - mycosporine-like amino acids - algae - skin aging