A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease (ADAM): Historical Overview of Their Functions.
Since the discovery of the first disintegrin protein from snake venom and the following identification of a mammalian membrane-anchored metalloprotease-disintegrin implicated in fertilization, almost three decades of studies have identified additional members of these families and several biochemical mechanisms regulating their expression and activity in the cell. Most importantly, new in vivo functions have been recognized for these proteins including cell partitioning during development, modulation of inflammatory reactions, and development of cancers. In this review, we will overview the a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) family of proteases highlighting some of the major research achievements in the analysis of ADAMs' function that have underscored the importance of these proteins in physiological and pathological processes over the years.
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50937, Germany. nives.giebeler@uk-koeln.de.
Nives
N
Giebeler
Department of Dermatology and Venerology, University of Cologne, Cologne 50937, Germany. paola.zigrino@uni-koeln.de.
Paola
P
Zigrino
D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000266:history / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans
D051722:ADAM Proteins
ADAM; SVMP; disintegrin