A new gene for asthma: would you ADAM and Eve it?
Recently, a novel gene was reported to underlie asthma. Linkage to the short arm of chromosome 20 in a genome screen was followed by positive tests of association that centre on the gene for a membrane-anchored zinc-dependent metalloproteinase known as ADAM33. The domain structure of the ADAM33 protein gives capabilities of proteolysis, adhesion, cell fusion and intracellular signalling. Although its function is at present unknown, these potential actions of ADAM33 provide many possibilities for further research.
Cookson
William
W
Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK. wocc@well.ox.ac.uk
D051722:ADAM Proteins; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000235:genetics; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002890:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 20; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats
D051722:ADAM Proteins; C450441:ADAM33 protein, human; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases