Meltrin beta mini, a new ADAM19 isoform lacking metalloprotease and disintegrin domains, induces morphological changes in neuronal cells.

Meltrin beta (ADAM19) is a metalloprotease-disintegrin expressed in the peripheral nervous system and other organs during embryogenesis. We report here an alternatively spliced isoform, meltrin beta 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 beta mini but not meltrin beta induced neurite outgrowth in neuronal cells. These studies suggest that the novel meltrin beta isoform has a distinct function related to neurogenesis.