Definition
A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) molecules share a common domain structure: a propeptide (prodomain), a metalloproteinase domain, a disintegrin domain, a cysteine-rich region, an epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmatic domain (Fig. 1). Several ADAMs exist in both membrane-bound and secreted isoforms; the functional significance of this, in most cases, is still unclear. A subset of the presently known ADAM molecules shows catalytic activity. To date, at least 40 ADAMs have been identified in a variety of species. A large proportion (13 ADAMs) is exclusively expressed in the male reproductive system, and only a minority can be found throughout all tissues.
Domain structure of ADAMs. The ADAMs consist of a propeptide domain, a metalloprotease domain, a disintegrin domain, a cysteine-rich region, an...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Gschwind A, Hart S, Fischer OM et al (2004) TACE cleavage of proamphiregulin regulates GPCR-induced proliferation and motility of cancer cells. EMBO J 22:2411–2421
Iba K, Albrechtsen R, Gilpin BJ et al (1999) Cysteine-rich domain of human ADAM 12 (meltrin alpha) supports tumor cell adhesion. Am J Pathol 54:1489–1501
Karan D, Lin FC, Bryan M et al (2003) Expression of ADAMs (a disintegrin and metalloproteases) and TIMP-3 (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3) in human prostatic adenocarcinomas. Int J Oncol 23:1365–1371
Ringel J, Jesnowski R, Moniaux N et al (2006) Aberrant expression of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17/tumor necrosis factor-alpha converting enzyme increases the malignant potential in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 66(18):9045–9053
Seals DF, Courtneidge SA (2003) The ADAMs family of metalloproteases: multidomain proteins with multiple functions. Genes Dev 17:7–30
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this entry
Cite this entry
Ringel, J., Löhr, M. (2015). ADAM Molecules. In: Schwab, M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Cancer. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_73-2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27841-9_73-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27841-9
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences