WISP-3

WISP-3 is a member of the CCN family of secreted cysteine rich regulatory proteins. It is predominantly expressed in the adult kidney, testis and fetal kidney and weaker expression in placenta, ovary, prostate, small intestine, and skeletally-derived cells. WISP-3 is required for normal postnatal skeletal growth and cartilage homeostasis. Human WISP-3 is a 36.8 kDa protein containing 331 amino acid residues. It is composed of four distinct structural domains (modules) ; the IGF binding protein (IGFBP) domain, the von Willebrand Factor C (VWFC) domain, the thrombospondin type-1 repeat (TSP type-1) domain, and a C-terminal cystine knot-like (CTCK) domain.