Enables endopeptidase activity. Involved in proteolysis. Located in extracellular space and sarcoplasmic reticulum. Is expressed in several structures, including brain; glial cell; male germline cell; pericardial cell; and somatic muscle cell. Used to study heart conduction disease. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease axonal type 2T; X-linked dominant hypophosphatemic rickets; cerebral amyloid angiopathy; membranous glomerulonephritis; and neurodegenerative disease (multiple). Orthologous to several human genes including MME (membrane metalloendopeptidase) and MMEL1 (membrane metalloendopeptidase like 1).
FB Description
Neprilysin 4 (Nep4) encodes a metallopeptidase considered to cleave and thus inactivate signaling peptides in the extracellular space. It contributes to muscle integrity and male fertility.