基质金属蛋白酶（MMP）家族的蛋白质参与正常生理过程中细胞外基质的分解，如胚胎发育、生殖和组织重塑，以及疾病过程，如关节炎和转移大多数基质金属蛋白酶是以非活性的前蛋白形式分泌的，当被细胞外蛋白酶切割时被激活。然而，由该基因编码的酶在组成性分泌途径中由furin在细胞内激活与其他基质金属蛋白酶相比，这种酶分解α1-蛋白酶抑制剂，但弱降解细胞外基质的结构蛋白。[由RefSeq提供，2008年7月]
Proteins of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family are involved in the breakdown of extracellular matrix in normal physiological processes, such as embryonic development, reproduction, and tissue remodeling, as well as in disease processes, such as arthritis and metastasis. Most MMP's are secreted as inactive proproteins which are activated when cleaved by extracellular proteinases. However, the enzyme encoded by this gene is activated intracellularly by furin within the constitutive secretory pathway. Also in contrast to other MMP's, this enzyme cleaves alpha 1-proteinase inhibitor but weakly degrades structural proteins of the extracellular matrix. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]