ADAMTSL4 is a member of ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs)-like gene family and encodes a protein with protein with seven thrombospondin type 1 repeats. The thrombospondin type 1 repeat domain is found in many proteins with diverse biological functions including cellular adhesion, angiogenesis, and patterning of the developing nervous system. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized.
Expressed in colon, heart, leukocyte, liver, lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, testis and placenta. Weaker expression in bone marrow, brain tissue, kidney and pancreas. Expression studies in fetal tissues reveal strong expression in heart, kidney, liver, lung and skeletal muscle, but weaker expression in fetal brain and skin.