ADAMTS gene family

The ADAMTS gene family provides instructions for making a group of enzymes with a wide variety of functions. These enzymes are described as metalloproteases, which means that they contain a metal (in this case, zinc) and have protease activity (that is, they cut apart other proteins).

The human ADAMTS gene family consists of 19 related genes. These genes are designated ADAMTS1 through ADAMTS20. (There is no ADAMTS11 gene; this gene was found to be the same as ADAMTS5.)

Enzymes in the ADAMTS family are involved in many different processes in cells and tissues. They play roles in attaching cells together (cell adhesion), the movement (migration) of cells, blood clotting (coagulation), inflammation, and the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis). ADAMTS enzymes are also critical for the normal structure and function of connective tissue, which forms the body's supportive framework. Several ADAMTS enzymes are active before birth; they are probably involved in the formation and development of the body's organs and tissues.

Changes in ADAMTS genes have been associated with several diseases, including connective tissue disorders (such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), osteoarthritis, and a blood clotting disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Studies suggest that abnormal regulation of enzymes in the ADAMTS family may also play a role in several types of cancer.