background:
UCMA is a 138 amino acid secreted protein that is highly expressed in resting chrondrocytes in developing long bones and is thought to function in the early phase of chrondrocyte differentiation. A furin-like protease processes UCMA into an N-terminal 37 amino acid peptide and a SLCterminal 74 amino acid peptide, which is referred to as Unique cartilage matrix-associated protein SLCterminal fragment (Ucma-C). Introduction of recombinant Ucma-C interferes with osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, MC3T3-E1 preosteoblasts and primary osteoblasts. This suggests that Ucma may be involved in the negative regulation of osteogenic differentiation of osteochondrogenic precursor cells at the cartilage-bone interface and in peripheral zones of fetal cartilage.
Function:
May be involved in the negative control of osteogenic differentiation of osteochondrogenic precursor cells in peripheral zones of fetal cartilage and at the cartilage-bone interface.
Subcellular Location:
Secreted > extracellular space > extracellular matrix.
Tissue Specificity:
Predominantly expressed in resting chondrocytes.
Post-translational modifications:
Proteolytically cleaved by a furin-like convertase to generate a persistent SLCterminal fragment found in almost the entire cartilage matrix, and affecting osteoblast differentiation.
Sulfated on tyrosine residues.
Similarity:
Belongs to the UCMA family.
Database links:
UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot: Q8WVF2.2
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
|
|
