Procollagen C Proteinase

Procollagen C proteinase (PCP) and its enhancer protein (PCPE) are key to collagen fibril-assembly and extracellular matrix formation. PCP cleaves the carboxyl-propeptides of procollagens types I, II, and III and this initiates the self-assembly of collagen fibrils. PCP can also process pro-lysyl oxidase and laminin 5, and it may cleave the type V procollagen N-propeptides. Procollagen processing by PCP is stimulated by PCPE, a glycoprotein that binds to the C-propeptide of type I procollagen through its N-terminal CUB domains. PCP/BMP-1 related proteases can activate TGF-β-like growth factors. PCPs have important biological functions in addition to their role in collagen fibril assembly.