ADAMs and cell fusion

• Published in: Current opinion in cell biology Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 692 - 699
• Main Authors: Huovila, Ari Pekka J, Almeida, Eduardo AC, White, Judith M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-10-1996
• Subjects: Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Cell Fusion; Female; Male; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Metalloendopeptidases - metabolism; Molecular Sequence Data; Sperm-Ovum Interactions; SVMP snake venom metalloprotease; ADAM protein containing a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain
• ISSN: 0955-0674; 1879-0410
• DOI: 10.1016/S0955-0674(96)80111-6

Members of the ADAM family (membrane proteins with a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain) have been implicated in several cell-interactive events, including cell—cell fusion. Recent evidence implicates three ADAMs, fertilin-α, fertilin-β, and meltrin-α, in sperm—egg fusion and myoblast fusion. In light of the large number and wide tissue distribution of the ADAMs, they may also participate in other cell—cell fusion events. As ADAMs are also found in both vertebrates and invertebrates, some features of cell—cell fusion reactions may be conserved throughout the animal kingdom.