title: Cloning, expression, and functional characterization of the von Willebrand factor-cleaving protease (ADAMTS13).
abstract: Deficient von Willebrand factor (VWF) degradation has been associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). In hereditary TTP, the specific VWF-cleaving protease (VWF-cp) is absent or functionally defective, whereas in the nonfamilial, acquired form of TTP, an autoantibody inhibiting VWF-cp activity is found transiently in most patients. The gene encoding for VWF-cp has recently been identified as a member of the metalloprotease family and designated ADAMTS13, but the functional activity of the ADAMTS13 gene product has not been verified. To establish the functional activity of recombinant VWF-cp, we cloned the complete cDNA sequence in a eukaryotic expression vector and transiently expressed the encoded recombinant ADAMTS13 in HEK 293 cells. The expressed protein degraded VWF multimers and proteolytically cleaved VWF to the same fragments as those generated by plasma VWF-cp. Furthermore, recombinant ADAMTS13-mediated degradation of VWF multimers was entirely inhibited in the presence of plasma from a patient with acquired TTP. These data show that ADAMTS13 is responsible for the physiologic proteolytic degradation of VWF multimers.
authors.affiliation: Baxter BioScience, Biomedical Research Center, Orth, Austria.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Plaimauer
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Völkel
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Antoine
authors.forename: Randolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kerschbaumer
authors.forename: Pegah
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jenab
authors.forename: Miha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furlan
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerritsen
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lämmle
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Friedrich
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scheiflinger
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000032:analysis; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000201:enzymology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D000071120:ADAMTS13 Protein; C099604:ADAMTS13 protein, human