α-Secretase Activity of the Disintegrin Metalloprotease ADAM 10: Influences of Domain Structure

: Disintegrin metalloproteases from different organisms form the ADAM (adisintegrin and metalloprotease) family. All members display a common domain organization and possess four potential functions: proteolysis, cell adhesion, cell fusion, and cell signaling. Members of the ADAM family are responsible for the proteolytic cleavage of transmembrane proteins and release of their extracellular domain. The proteolytic process is referred to as ectodomain shedding, which is activated by phorbol esters and inhibited by hydroxamic acid‐based inhibitors. We have shown that the disintegrin metalloprotease ADAM 10 has both constitutive and regulated α‐secretase activity. Expression of a dominant negative mutant of ADAM 10 in HEK cells decreases the secretion of APPsα. In order to investigate the influence of distinct protein domains of ADAM 10 on α‐secretase activity, several deletion mutants of ADAM 10 were constructed. Our findings demonstrate that the deletion of the disintegrin domain results in a mutant ADAM 10 with remaining α‐secretase activity, whereas the deletion of the prodomain destroys the proteolytic activity of ADAM 10.