Human A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease 20 (ADAM20) Protein

Background

ADAM20 (A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 20) is a member of the ADAM family. These proteins are primarily involved in various biological processes, including cell adhesion, migration, proteolysis, and signaling. ADAM20 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with a complex structure consisting of several distinct domains, including a metalloproteinase domain, disintegrin domain, cysteine-rich domain, epidermal growth factor-like domain, transmembrane domain, and cytoplasmic tail. The metalloproteinase domain of ADAM20 suggests its potential involvement in proteolytic processing of proteins within the extracellular matrix or on the cell surface. However, the specific functions and substrates of ADAM20 are not as well characterized compared to some other members of the ADAM family. ADAM20 is specifically implicated in reproductive biology, particularly in sperm development and function. It is one of the several ADAM proteins that play critical roles in fertilization.