Research advance in the function of a disintegin and metalloprotease 10

A disintegrin and metalloprotease 10(ADAM10)is an important regulation molecule in the cell membrane. ADAM 10 are often implicated in ectodomain shedding, either to release e. g. growth factors or to initiate further intracellular signaling via regulated intramembrane proteolysis. By this way ADAM10 is involved in the development and growth of the central nervous system (CNS) 、 inflammation and the formation and infestation of cancer. In this paper, the structure and function and four major substrates of the ADAM 10 are briefly introduced. Key words: ADAM10; α-Secretase; Regulated intramembrane proteolysis