Has metalloproteinase activity (PubMed:11967260). Required for larval tissue histolysis during metamorphosis and is involved in pupal head eversion and fusion of the wing imaginal tissue (PubMed:12530966). Required for growth of the dorsal air sac primordium and development of the dorsal air sacs (PubMed:19751719). Promotes embryonic motor axon fasciculation (PubMed:18045838). Cleaves and activates frac to promote motor axon bundling during outgrowth (PubMed:21471368). Promotes the reshaping of adult sensory neuron dendrites from a radial to lattice-like shape which occurs after eclosion by degrading the basement membrane on which the dendrites grow (PubMed:20412776). Involved in inhibition of follicle stem cell proliferation by cleaving Dlp, inhibiting its interaction with wg and preventing Dlp-mediated spreading of wg to follicle stem cells to enhance their proliferation (PubMed:25267296). Plays a role in wound healing (PubMed:22262460). Involved in fat body dissociation which occurs during metamorphosis by degrading basement membrane components, leading to destruction of cell-basement membrane junctions (PubMed:25520167). Required for posterior follicle cell degradation and ovulation (PubMed:25695427). Widely expressed during embryogenesis including in the mesoderm, developing gut, central and peripheral nervous systems and imaginal disks (PubMed:12530966). In the embryonic nervous system, expressed in neurons and glia (PubMed:18045838). In third instar larvae, strongly expressed in the morphogenetic furrow of eye imaginal disks and in the optic lobe region of the brain (PubMed:11967260). Expressed in posterior follicle cells in all mature stage 14 follicles but not in earlier follicles and is also expressed in some anterior follicle cells that help form dorsal eggshell structures (PubMed:25695427). Expressed in embryos beginning at 8-12 hours, in first instar larvae, in pupae and in male and female adults with highest expression in early pupae (PubMed:11967260, PubMed:12530966). In epithelial cells, weakly expressed at late pupal stages with significantly elevated expression at the early adult stage of 0-4 hours after eclosion and levels returning to normal by 3 days after eclosion (PubMed:20412776). Defective larval tissue histolysis and epithelial fusion during metamorphosis (PubMed:12530966). Impaired fasciculation of ISNb nerves (PubMed:18045838). Belongs to the peptidase M10A family.