Enzyme activity determinations in bone and cartilage.

Abstract

SummaryThe data on bone and cartilage enzymology available in the literature and gained by our own experiments were reviewed and discussed in respect to their metabolic significance in bone and cartilage cell metabolism. Enzyme distribution patterns of main metabolic pathway enzymes reflect the metabolic features of these tissues suggesting a predominant anaerobic energy and intermediary metabolism. Enzyme activities of matrix components synthesizing enzymes as well as degrading enzymes are responsible for the maintainance of the biological steady state of the macromolecular matrix components which enables bone and cartilage tissue to perform their specific biological functions.