Meltrin β mini, a new ADAM19 isoform lacking metalloprotease and disintegrin domains, induces morphological changes in neuronal cells1

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Abstract
Meltrin β (ADAM19) is a metalloprotease‐disintegrin expressed in the peripheral nervous system and other organs during embryogenesis. We report here an alternatively spliced isoform, meltrin β mini, that lacks the prodomain, metalloprotease and disintegrin domains. A comparison of the cDNA and genomic sequences suggested the existence of a new exon. This isoform was detected in murine dorsal root ganglion and neuronal cell lines by RT‐PCR. Overexpression of meltrin β mini but not meltrin β induced neurite outgrowth in neuronal cells. These studies suggest that the novel meltrin β isoform has a distinct function related to neurogenesis.