ADAMTS1
ADAMTS1 was the founding member of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs) subfamily. Secreted into the extracellular matrix, it cleaves proteoglycans such as aggrecan and versican and, through heparin-binding sequences, sequesters VEGF, giving ADAMTS1 a well-documented anti-angiogenic activity. Knockout phenotypes underline its developmental roles: Adamts1-null mice display female subfertility caused by defective ovulation and abnormalities in kidney and urinary tract development. The enzyme is also discussed as a modulator of tumor angiogenesis, which sustains interest in its recombinant form for vascular biology research. It is produced with a furin-activation site, and its multiple thrombospondin type 1 repeats anchor the enzyme to sulfated matrix components.
