This domain represents the Spacer-1 region from the ADAM-TS and ADAM-TS-like proteins [1]. ADAM-TS (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs) is closely related to the ADAM family (A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase) and is a subfamily of the metalloprotease family, sharing a high degree of sequence similarity and conserved domain organisation among its members [2,3]. Members of the ADAM-TS family have been implicated in a range of diseases [4,7]. ADAM-TS-like proteins lack a metalloprotease domain. They resides in the ECM and have regulatory roles [4]. Examples of ADAM-TS-like proteins are papilin [5] and punctin [6].

1: Identification, characterization, and intracellular processing of ADAM-TS12, a novel human disintegrin with a complex structural organization involving multiple thrombospondin-1 repeats. Cal S, Arguelles JM, Fernandez PL, Lopez-Otin C; J Biol Chem 2001;276:17932-17940. PMID:11279086

2: Molecular cloning of a gene encoding a new type of metalloproteinase-disintegrin family protein with thrombospondin motifs as an inflammation associated gene. Kuno K, Kanada N, Nakashima E, Fujiki F, Ichimura F, Matsushima K; J Biol Chem. 1997;272:556-562. PMID:8995297

3: ADAM-TS5, ADAM-TS6, and ADAM-TS7, novel members of a new family of zinc metalloproteases. General features and genomic distribution of the ADAM-TS family. Hurskainen TL, Hirohata S, Seldin MF, Apte SS; J Biol Chem. 1999;274:25555-25563. PMID:10464288

4: ADAMTS proteins in human disorders. Mead TJ, Apte SS; Matrix Biol. 2018;71:225-239. PMID:29885460

5: Papilin in development; a pericellular protein with a homology to the ADAMTS metalloproteinases. Kramerova IA, Kawaguchi N, Fessler LI, Nelson RE, Chen Y, Kramerov AA, Kusche-Gullberg M, Kramer JM, Ackley BD, Sieron AL, Prockop DJ, Fessler JH; Development. 2000;127:5475-5485. PMID:11076767

6: Punctin, a novel ADAMTS-like molecule, ADAMTSL-1, in extracellular matrix. Hirohata S, Wang LW, Miyagi M, Yan L, Seldin MF, Keene DR, Crabb JW, Apte SS; J Biol Chem. 2002;277:12182-12189. PMID:11805097

7: Regulation of ADAMTS Proteases. Rose KWJ, Taye N, Karoulias SZ, Hubmacher D; Front Mol Biosci. 2021;8:701959. PMID:34268335