Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) is a zinc-dependent protease that catalyzes hydrolysis of interstitial collagens. A previously reported X-ray crystallographic structure revealed specific interactions between a triple-helical peptide (THP) model of interstitial collagen and the hemopexin-like (HPX) and catalytic (CAT) domains of MMP-1. An NMR-based structure of MMP-1 in a complex with a different THP was also solved, where docking was used to model the MMP-1.THP interactions and develop a mechanism for the early stages of collagenolysis. To provide greater insight into and reveal specific details of the collagenolytic mechanism, molecular dynamics (MD) studies of the MMP-1.THP NMR-derived and X-ray crystallographic complexes were performed and compared. The "open/ extended" conformation of the NMR derived MMP-1.THP complex was found to lead to a catalytically productive complex. The X-ray crystallographic MMP-1-THP complex was initially in a "closed/collapsed" conformation, and did not yield a productive complex. The NMR-derived structure of the MMP-1.THP complex possessed many more atomistic interactions between MMP-1 and the THP compared with the X-ray crystallographic structure of the MMP-1.THP complex, and also had greater participation of MMP-I in the local unwinding/destabilization of the THP. The atomistic interactions support the favorable energetics of the initial step of collagenolysis originating from the NMR-derived MMP-1.THP complex structure.