ADAMTSae4

ADAMTSae4

An ADAMTSs family enzyme encoded by ADAMTS4 on chromosome 1q21-q23, which cleaves aggrecan, the major proteoglycan of cartilage, the proteolytically active form of which may require removal of the prodomain by furin-like activity and part of the C-terminal spacer domain by other matrix metalloproteinases. ADAMTS4 is found mainly in brain, lung, heart, chondrocytes and in joint tissues from arthritic rats (and presumably arthritic patients). ADAMTS4 and ADAMs family members are upregulated in breast cancer.