| Modification Notes |
Extracellular proteases mediate the digestion of neighboring extracellular matrix components in initial tumor growth, allow desquamation of tumor cells into the surrounding environment, provide the basis for invasion of basement membranes in targeted metastatic organs and are required for release and activation of many growth and angiogenic factors. TMPRSS4 (transmembrane protease, serine 4), also known as MT-SP2 (membrane-type serine protease 2) and initially referred to as TMPRSS3, is a single-pass type II membrane protein with one SRCR domain, one LDL-receptor class A domain and one peptidase S1 domain. Localizing to the cell surface, TMPRSS4 is a member of the peptidase S1 family and is weakly expressed in normal tissues but is highly expressed in gastric, pancreatic, ampullary and colorectal cancer. TMPRSS4 plays a role in metastasis formation and tumor invasion. |