von Willebrand factor A domain-containing protein 2, also known as A domain-containing protein similar to matrilin and collagen (AMACO) is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the VWA2 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

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AMACO is a member of the von Willebrand factor A

Von Willebrand factor type A domain

The von Willebrand factor is a large multimeric glycoprotein found in blood plasma. Mutant forms are involved in the aetiology of bleeding disorders. In von Willebrand factor, the type A domain is the prototype for a protein superfamily...

-like (VWA) domain containing protein superfamily and consists of three VWA-like domains, two EGF-like domain

EGF-like domain

EGF-like domain is an evolutionary conserved protein domain, of about thirty to forty amino-acid residues long, which was found in a large number of mostly animal proteins. All these repeats are found in the extracellular domain of membrane-bound proteins or in proteins known to be secreted...

s, a cysteine-rich domain and a unique C-terminal domain.
AMACO is an extracellular matrix

Extracellular matrix

In biology, the extracellular matrix is the extracellular part of animal tissue that usually provides structural support to the animal cells in addition to performing various other important functions. The extracellular matrix is the defining feature of connective tissue in animals.Extracellular...

 protein and mostly deposited adjacent to basement membrane

Basement membrane

The basement membrane is a thin sheet of fibers that underlies the epithelium, which lines the cavities and surfaces of organs including skin, or the endothelium, which lines the interior surface of blood vessels.- Composition :...

s.

The function of this protein is not yet clear; however, it was found markedly induced in colon cancers and may be useful diagnostic serum marker.