Background
ADAM15, also known as Metargidin, is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the ADAM (A Disintegrin and Metalloprotease Domain) family of proteins and is widely expressed in different tissues and cell types. Members of this family contain an amino-terminal metalloprotease domain followed by a disintegrin domain, a cysteine-rich region and a membrane proximal EGF-like domain. The disintegrin domain of ADAM15/metargidin contains an RGD tripeptide sequence, suggesting that it may potentially interact with the integrin family of proteins. ADAM15 is a transmembrane multi-domain proteins implicated in proteolysis, cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions in various disease conditions. There is also evidence supporting a role for ADAM15 in angiogenesis and angioinvasion of tumor cells, which are critical for unrestrained tumor growth and metastatic spread. Given its diverse functions, ADAM15 may represent a pivotal regulatory component of tumor progression, an important target for therapeutic intervention, or emerge as a biomarker of disease progression.
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