1. An enzyme that breaks down collagen, a protein found in connective tissue.
Usage: technical; biochemistry

Examples

• Collagenase is produced by bacteria to help them invade host tissues.
• The research team used collagenase to digest the collagen matrix in the tissue sample.
• Certain wound-healing treatments employ collagenase to remove dead tissue.
• Collagenase activity increases during inflammatory responses in the body.
• The enzyme collagenase is essential for remodeling connective tissue during development.