ADAM11

ADAM11 Full Name

ADAM metallopeptidase domain 11

ADAM11 Introduction

ADAM11, also known as ADAM metallopeptidase domain 11, is a protein-coding gene located on human chromosome 17q21.31, spanning approximately 2.9 kb of mRNA. It belongs to the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) protein family, a group of membrane-anchored proteins structurally related to snake venom disintegrins. ADAM family members are widely recognized for their involvement in diverse biological processes, including cell-cell interactions, cell-matrix adhesion, fertilization, muscle development and neurogenesis. ADAM11 is evolutionarily ancient and well conserved, with orthologs identified in more than 180 organisms ranging from chimpanzees and mice to zebrafish and fruit flies, highlighting its fundamental importance across species.

Figure 1. Strcuture of TADA2A.

A Non-Catalytic ADAM Family Member
Unlike many of its proteolytically active ADAM relatives, ADAM11 is characterized as a non-catalytic metalloprotease-like protein. This functional distinction arises from the absence of a critical catalytic motif within its metalloprotease domain, rendering it incapable of proteolytic cleavage. Instead, ADAM11 relies on its other structural domains to exert biological effects. The protein contains a disintegrin-like domain that mediates integrin binding and cell adhesion, as well as a cysteine-rich region that facilitates protein-protein interactions. This structure allows ADAM11 to function primarily as a probable ligand for integrin in the brain, serving as an adhesion molecule rather than a protease. ADAM11 is a single-pass type I transmembrane protein, anchored to the cell membrane where it can interact with extracellular ligands and intracellular signaling partners.

Predominant Expression in the Nervous System
ADAM11 exhibits a highly tissue-specific expression pattern, with predominant expression in the brain and only minimal or undetectable levels in other tissues. Among human tissues, the highest median expression is observed in the cerebellum (94.96 RPKM), reflecting its specialized role in central nervous system function. Within the brain, ADAM11 is particularly abundant in the hippocampus and cerebellum, regions critically involved in learning, memory and motor coordination. The protein also shows biased expression in heart (RPKM 3.1) and a few other tissues, but its neural enrichment remains its defining feature. Alternative splicing gives rise to multiple transcript variants, at least one of which encodes an isoform that undergoes proteolytic processing, further expanding the functional repertoire of this gene.

Alternate Names for ADAM11

ADAM11; ADAM metallopeptidase domain 11; MDC; disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 11; ADAM 11;