ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) proteins are a family of over 30 membrane-anchored, glycosylated, Zn2+ dependent proteases that are involved in cell-cell, cell-matrix interface related processes including fertilization, muscle fusion, secretion of TNF?(tumor necrosis factor ?, and modulation of the neurogenic function of Notch and Delta (1-3). ADAM proteins possess a signal-domain, a pro-domain, a metalloprotease domain, a disintegrin domain (Integrin ligand), a cysteine-rich regi