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 region, an epidermal growth factor-like domain, a transmembrane domain and a cytoplasmic tail (1-3). ADAMs are expressed in brain, testis, epididymis, ovary, breast, placenta, liver, heart, lung, bone, and muscle, and catalyze proteolysis, adhesion, fusion, and intracellular signaling (3). ADAM 12 (Meltrin-a) is produced as 2 differentially spliced isoforms, a 718 amino acid secreted form (ADAM12S) and a 881 amino acid membrane-bound form (ADAM12L), and is involved in egg-sperm fusion (4-6).