title: ADAMs are present in fungi: identification of two novel ADAM genes in Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: The ADAMs are a family of integral membrane proteases involved in shedding and fusion events in animal tissues. Here, we report the identification of two ADAMs, ADM-A and ADM-B, in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The domain structure of metazoan ADAMs was seen in ADM-A and -B, although with some differences. ADAMs were identified in other filamentous fungi and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the fungal ADAMs were monophyletic and most closely related to metazoan ADAM 10 and 17. Recombinant ADM-B protease specifically cleaved casein and albumin while recombinant propeptide+protease was inactive. A sheddase function is therefore proposed for fungal ADAMs.
authors.affiliation: F2G Ltd., P.O. Box 1, Lankro Way, Eccles, Manchester M30 0BH, UK. sanlavens@f2g.com
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lavens
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rovira-Graells
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Birch
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tuckwell
mesh_terms: D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D016681:Genome, Fungal; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D008666:Metalloendopeptidases