title: Ectodomain shedding and ADAMs in development.
abstract: Proteolytic enzymes belonging to the A Disintegin And Metalloproteinase (ADAM) family are able to cleave transmembrane proteins close to the cell surface, in a process referred to as ectodomain shedding. Substrates for ADAMs include growth factors, cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules, and, as such, many ADAM proteins play crucial roles in cell-cell adhesion, extracellular and intracellular signaling, cell differentiation and cell proliferation. In this Review, we summarize the fascinating roles of ADAMs in embryonic and adult tissue development in both vertebrates and invertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Centre Göttingen, Universitaetsmedizin Göttingen, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Georg-August-University Göttingen,  Germany.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saftig
mesh_terms: D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D047108:Embryonic Development; D006801:Humans; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000196:embryology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D051722:ADAM Proteins