Serine protease HTRA3 (Htra3)

Serine protease that cleaves beta-casein/CSN2 in addition to several extracellular matrix (ECM) proteoglycans like decorin/DCN, biglycan/BGN and fibronectin/FN1. Inhibits signaling mediated by TGF-beta family proteins maybe indirectly by degradation of these ECM proteoglycans (PubMed:15206957).

May act as a tumor suppressor. Negatively regulates, in vitro, trophoblast invasion during placental development and may be involved in the development of the placenta in vivo.