Gene:
a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease (reprolysin type) with thrombospondin type 1 motif, 4
Gene ID:
203849
Symbol:
ADAMTS4
Species:
1000
Description:
This gene encodes a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4, which is a member of the ADAMTS protein family. Members of the family share several distinct protein modules, including a propeptide region, a metalloproteinase domain, a disintegrin-like domain, and a thrombospondin type 1 (TS) motif. Individual members of this family differ in the number of C-terminal TS motifs, and some have unique C-terminal domains. The enzyme encoded by this gene lacks a C-terminal TS motif. It is responsible for the degradation of aggrecan, a major proteoglycan of cartilage, and brevican, a brain-specific extracellular matrix protein. The cleavage of aggrecan and brevican suggests key roles of this enzyme in arthritic disease and in the central nervous system, potentially, in the progression of glioma.