Role of ADAMTS Proteases in BMP Signaling in C.elegans

Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) have important roles in the human body, including bone and cartilage formation and repair, cell growth and differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. Another family of proteins, ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motif) proteins, is composed of secreted zinc metalloproteases that play important roles in growth and development by processing extracellular matrix proteins. Several related human developmental disorders are associated with improper functioning of BMPs and ADAMTSs. There are overlapping phenotypes shared by DBL- 1/BMP and the five ADAMTS genes in C.elegans. A previous study found that C.elegans ADT-2/ADAMTS is an important signal regulator of DBL-1/BMP signaling. However, if other ADAMTSs regulate DBL-1/BMP signaling and how ADAMTS proteases regulate DBL- 1/BMP signaling remain unknown. This project will determine how ADAMTS proteases regulate DBL-1/BMP signaling.