| Modification Notes |
The ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) protein family, which includes over 30 membrane-anchored, glycosylated, Zn2+ dependent proteases, plays a role in cell-cell and cell-matrix interface related processes. These processes include fertilization, muscle fusion, secretion of TNFå (tumor necrosis factor å) and modulation of the neurogenic function of Notch and Delta. The ADAM proteins possess a signal-domain, a pro-domain, a metalloprotease domain, a disintegrin domain (Integrin ligand), a cysteine-rich region, an epidermal growth factor-like domain and a cytoplasmic tail. ADAMs are expressed in a wide range of mammalian tissues and several are abundantly expressed in the male reproductive tract. ADAM30 is located specifically in the testis and is expressed as multiple isoforms varying at the C-terminus. Through its catalytic domains, ADAM30 is thought to play a role in spermatogenesis and fertilization. |