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1: Mol Hum Reprod. 1999 Dec;5(12):1127-34.Click here to read Links

Identification, sequence analysis and expression of transcripts encoding a putative metalloproteinase, eMDC II, in human and macaque epididymis.

Jury JA, Perry AC, Hall L.

Department of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, School of Medical Sciences, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.

The metalloproteinase-like, disintegrin-like, cysteine-rich (MDC) family is a large group of sequence-related proteins, first characterized in the male reproductive tract, but subsequently also identified in non-reproductive tissues. Their primary translation products are of approximately 90 kDa and each can be divided into distinct domains which show remarkable homology to reprolysins; snake venom haemorrhagic components possessing metalloproteinase and/or disintegrin domains. Several MDC proteins are abundantly-expressed in the male reproductive tract, suggesting functions in fertility. We now describe the cloning, sequence determination and characterization of transcripts encoding the human and macaque (Macaca fascicularis) orthologues of a novel member of the MDC family (eMDC II) which is abundantly-expressed in the epididymis. Unlike many MDC proteins expressed in the reproductive tract, eMDC II possesses the extended 'catalytic centre' consensus sequence characteristic of a reprolysin-like metalloproteinase. This suggests that eMDC II has proteolytic activity.

PMID: 10587367 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]