Background：

This gene encodes a member of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs) protein family. Members of the family share several distinct protein modules， including a propeptide region， a metalloproteinase domain， a disintegrin-like domain， and a thrombospondin type 1 (TS) motif. Individual members of this family differ in the number of C-terminal TS motifs， and some have unique C-terminal domains. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate the mature enzyme. This enzyme contains two C-terminal TS motifs and functions as an aggrecanase that cleaves aggrecan， a major proteoglycan of cartilage， and may mediate cartilage destruction in osteoarthritis.