Matrix metalloproteinases are a family of zinc and calcium dependent endopeptidases with the combined ability to degrade all the components of the extracellular matrix. MMP-9 (gelatinase B) can degrade a broad range of substrates including gelatin, collagen types?IV and V, elastin and proteoglycan core protein. It is believed to act synergistically with interstitial collagenase (MMP-1) in the degradation of fibrillar collagens as it degrades their denatured gelatin forms. MMP-9 is produced by keratinocytes, monocytes, macrophages and PMN leukocytes. MMP-9 is present in most cases of inflammatory responses. The activity of recombinant mouse MMP9 is measured by its ability to cleave a fluorogenic peptide substrate MCA-Pro-Leu-Gly-Leu-DPA-Ala-Arg-NH2 in the assay buffer 50 mM Tris, 10 mM CaCl2, 150 mM NaCl, 0.05% (w/v) Brij-35, pH 7.5. The rmMMP9 is diluted to 100 ug/ml in assay buffer, then activated by p-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) in a final concentration of 1 mM incubated at 37 °C for 1 hours. The activated rmMMP9 is diluted to 0.2 ug/mL in assay buffer. Loading into a black well plate 50 μL of 0.2 ug/mL rmMMP9 and start the reaction by adding 50 μL of 20 μM substrate, with a substrate blank containing 50 μL assay buffer, 50 μL substrate, and no rmMMP9. Then read at excitiation and emission wavelengths of 320 nm and 405 nm, respectively, in kinetic mode for 5 minutes. The specific activity of recombinant mouse MMP9 is > 5500 pmol/min/μg.