WARP is a new member of the von Willebrand factor A‐domain superfamily of extracellular matrix proteins

Abstract
We report a new member of the von illebrand factor A‐domain protein superfamily, WARP (for von illebrand factor ‐domain‐elated rotein). The full‐length mouse WARP cDNA is 2.3 kb in size and predicts a protein of 415 amino acids which contains a signal sequence, a VA‐like domain, two fibronectin type III‐like repeats, and a short proline‐ and arginine‐rich segment. WARP mRNA was expressed predominantly in chondrocytes and in vitro expression experiments in transfected 293 cells indicated that WARP is a secreted glycoprotein that forms disulphide‐bonded oligomers. We conclude that WARP is a new member of the von Willebrand factor A‐domain (VA‐domain) superfamily of extracellular matrix proteins which may play a role in cartilage structure and function.

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