Cellular strategies for proteolytic targeting during migration and invasion

Cell migration over or through the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an integral feature of both physiological and pathological processes. Regulation of the changing cell–ECM interactions involved can be effected by proteolysis and requires strict spatial and temporal targeting of proteinase activity. The versatile use of different proteinase systems, with a variety of localisation mechanisms and cleavage targets, is being revealed by a plethora of studies using in vitro models. This mini review reflects the status of our knowledge of strategies for the localisation of proteolytic activity effected during cell migration.