Human extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs) invade the maternal decidua. To identify the molecules involved in EVT invasion, we raised a murine monoclonal antibody (CHL2) that reacts with human EVTs. The molecular mass of CHL2 antigen purified from placental tissues was 160 kDa. Although the N-terminal partial amino acid sequence and one internal sequence are still unreported, the other three internal sequences matched those deduced from the coding region of the estimated sequence tag (1672 bp, AK075131). Based on this information, the full-length of the coding cDNA sequence of CHL2 antigen (2970 bp), which has not been reported elsewhere, was determined by 5' RACE. This novel protein, named laeverin, has a peptidase M1 motif containing a zinc-binding active site. It also has a transmembrane domain near the N-terminus. Its amino acid sequence is homologous with aminopeptidase N. These data indicate that human EVTs express laeverin, a novel protein belonging to gluzincin metallopepticlases. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.