Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), also known as matrixins, belong to a group of zinc-dependent proteins, which are thought to play a central role in the breakdown of extracellular matrix. Collagen, elastin, gelatin and casein are major components cleaved by MMPs. The breakdown of these components is essential for many physiological processes such as embryonic development, morphogenesis, reproduction, and tissue resorption and remodelling. MMPs also participate in pathological processes such as arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding these proteins, their participation in physiological and pathophysiological roles, their involvement in activation and inhibition, and their interactions with other metal-binding proteins including metallothioneins.

Due to unique physico-chemical properties of –SH moiety thiols comprise widegroup of biologically important compounds. A review devoted to biological functions ofglutathione and phytochelatins with literature survey of methods used to analysis of thesecompounds and their interactions with cadmium(II) ions and Murashige-Skoog medium ispresented. For these purposes electrochemical techniques are used. Moreover, we revealedthe effect of three different cadmium concentrations (0, 10 and 100 μM) on cadmiumuptake and thiols content in maize plants during 192 hours long experiments usingdifferential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry to detect cadmium(II) ions and highperformance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection to determineglutathione. Cadmium concentration determined in tissues of the plants cultivated innutrient solution containing 10 μM Cd was very low up to 96 hours long exposition andthen the concentration of Cd markedly increased. On the contrary, the addition of 100 μMCd caused an immediate sharp increase in all maize plant parts to 96 hours Cd expositionbut subsequently the Cd concentration increased more slowly. A high performance liquidchromatography with electrochemical detection was used for glutathione determination intreated maize plants after 96 and 192 hours of treatment. The highest total content of glutathione per one plant was 6 μg (96 h, 10 μM Cd) in comparison with non-treated plant (control) where glutathione content was 1.5 μg. It can be concluded that electrochemical techniques have proved to be useful to analyse plant thiols.