A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 12 (ADAM12)

ADAM12 encodes a member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) protein family. Members of this family are membrane-anchored proteins structurally related to snake venom disintegrins, and have been implicated in a variety of biological processes involving cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, including fertilization, muscle development, and neurogenesis. This gene has two alternatively spliced transcripts: a shorter secreted form and a longer membrane-bound form. Similarly to myogenin, a marker of early muscle differentiation, mouse meltrin-alpha is expressed in neonatal muscle and bone, and its expression increases dramatically in response to the induction of differentiation. Immunocytochemical localization and functional expression studies suggested that meltrin-alpha may be involved in myotube formation.