A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase With Thrombospondin 20 (ADAMTS20)

ADAMTS20 is a member of the large ADAMTS family of zinc-dependent proteases. For a general description of the ADAMTS gene family. ADAMTS20 shares 69% amino acid identity with its mouse homolog. The authors identified a short isoform of ADAMTS20 with 11 TSRs due to alternative splicing. Northern blot analysis of polyA(+) RNA from human tissues detected a 7-kb transcript in testis, prostate, ovary, heart, placenta, lung, and pancreas. RT-PCR analysis of primary tumors and adjacent normal tissue showed overexpression of ADAMTS20 in several brain, colon, and breast carcinomas when compared to the low or undetectable expression in corresponding normal tissues. Western blot analysis detected a 70-kD band in mouse testis and brain tissues.