This gene encodes a member of the ADAMTS (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motif) protein family. Members of the family share several distinct protein modules, including a propeptide region, a metalloproteinase domain, a disintegrin-like domain, and a thrombospondin type 1 (TS) motif. Individual members of this family differ in the number of C-terminal TS motifs, and some have unique C-terminal domains. The encoded preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate the mature enzyme. This enzyme cleaves amino-terminal propeptides from type I procollagen, a necessary step in the formation of collagen fibers. Mutations in this gene may be associated with osteoarthritis in human patients. [provided by RefSeq, May 2016],