Collagenase Type III

Collagenase is a protease consisting of a single polypeptide chain approximately 1,000 amino acid residues in length. Collagenase is capable of digesting native collagen fibrils commonly found in connective tissues and therefore is frequently used for tissue dissociation. Collagenase preparations contain the activity of several proteases, including collagenase, caseinase, clostripain, and trypsin (Kessler & Yaron). Collagenase Type III contains low levels of proteolytic activity, especially for caseinase, clostripain, and trypsin. Collagenase Type III has been used for the digestion of mammary glands (Rønnov-Jessen et al.), colon cancer stem cells (Prince et al.), and breast epithelial tumor cells (Chan et al.).