ADAMTS7
ADAMTS7 has become prominent through human genetics: genome-wide association studies repeatedly map coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis risk to the ADAMTS7 locus, and variants in the same region are also linked to height and to arthritis phenotypes. Functionally, the enzyme cleaves COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein), and it contributes to vascular smooth muscle cell behavior relevant to neointima formation. This combination of cardiovascular genetics and defined extracellular-matrix substrates distinguishes ADAMTS7 from the cartilage aggrecanases and supports its use in vascular and joint disease research. Its C-terminal region contains a distinctive PLAC domain shared with ADAMTS12, and the enzyme is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells as well as cartilage.
