Trends in Genetics
Volume 19, Issue 4, April 2003, Pages 169-172
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Research Focus
A new gene for asthma: would you ADAM and Eve it?

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-9525(03)00025-8Get rights and content

Abstract

Recently, a novel gene was reported to underlie asthma. Linkage to the short arm of chromosome 20 in a genome screen was followed by positive tests of association that centre on the gene for a membrane-anchored zinc-dependent metalloproteinase known as ADAM33. The domain structure of the ADAM33 protein gives capabilities of proteolysis, adhesion, cell fusion and intracellular signalling. Although its function is at present unknown, these potential actions of ADAM33 provide many possibilities for further research.

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