Abstract
The development of the secondary palate is a critical event in craniofacial development and it is dependent of extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling performed by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors, secreted into ECM (TMPs) or membrane-anchored (RECK). MMPs are endopeptidases zinc-dependent that, collectivelly, can cleavage ECM components and generate biactive molecules.…