Cloning and expression in Pichia pastoris of metalloprotease domain of ADAM 9 catalytically active against fibronectin.

ADAM 9 is a member of the cellular metalloprotease/disintegrin/cysteine-rich (MDC) gene family, related to soluble snake venom metalloproteases (SVMP). ADAMs may play important roles in cell-cell fusion, cell-matrix interaction, and other cellular functions. To investigate catalytic activity of human ADAM 9 we have cloned and expressed the metalloprotease domain of human ADAM 9 in Pichia pastoris. The recombinant protein was purified in a three-step purification procedure and activity was detected against gelatin, beta-casein, and fibronectin. In addition we identified five normal and cancer cell lines expressing mRNA of human ADAM 9.