May play a role in tissue-remodeling process occurring in both normal and pathological conditions. May have a protease-independent function in the transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus of secretory cargos, mediated by the GON domain. Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. Very sparingly expressed, although is detected at low levels in testis, prostate, ovary, heart, placenta, lung and pancreas. Overexpressed in several brain, colon and breast carcinomas. The precursor is cleaved by a furin endopeptidase. Glycosylated. Can be O-fucosylated by POFUT2 on a serine or a threonine residue found within the consensus sequence C1-X(2)-(S/T)-C2-G of the TSP type-1 repeat domains where C1 and C2 are the first and second cysteine residue of the repeat, respectively. Fucosylated repeats can then be further glycosylated by the addition of a beta-1,3-glucose residue by the glucosyltransferase, B3GALTL. Fucosylation mediates the efficient secretion of ADAMTS family members. Can also be C-glycosylated with one or two mannose molecules on tryptophan residues within the consensus sequence W-X-X-W of the TPRs, and N-glycosylated. These other glycosylations can also facilitate secretion (By similarity).