Growth differentiation factor-3 (GDF3), also known as Vg-related gene 2 (Vgr-2) is protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF3gene.[5] GDF3 belongs to the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) superfamily. It has high similarity to other TGF-β superfamily members including Vg1 (found in frogs) and GDF1.[5]
GDF3 is a bi-functional protein that has some intrinsic activity and also modulate other TGF-β superfamily members, e.g. potentiates the activity of NODAL. It may also inhibit other TGF-β superfamily members (i.e. BMPs), thus regulating the balance between different modes of TGF-beta signaling.[8] It has been shown to negatively and positively control differentiation of embryonic stem cells in mice and humans.[9] This molecule plays a role in mesoderm and definitive endoderm formation during the pre-gastrulation stages of development.[6]
^ abChen C, Ware SM, Sato A, Houston-Hawkins DE, Habas R, Matzuk MM, Shen MM, Brown CW (January 2006). "The Vg1-related protein Gdf3 acts in a Nodal signaling pathway in the pre-gastrulation mouse embryo". Development. 133 (2): 319–29. doi:10.1242/dev.02210. PMID16368929. S2CID14505029.
^Hexige S, Guo J, Ma L, Sun Y, Liu X, Ma L, Yan X, Li Z, Yu L (December 2005). "Expression pattern of growth/differentiation factor 3 in human and murine cerebral cortex, hippocampus as well as cerebellum". Neurosci. Lett. 389 (2): 83–7. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2005.06.071. PMID16126341. S2CID25293256.
^Levine A, Brivanlou A (2006). "GDF3, a BMP inhibitor, regulates cell fate in stem cells and early embryos". Development. 133 (2): 209–16. doi:10.1242/dev.02192. PMID16339188. S2CID35923560.
Further reading
Davila S, Froeling FE, Tan A, et al. (2010). "New genetic associations detected in a host response study to hepatitis B vaccine". Genes Immun. 11 (3): 232–8. doi:10.1038/gene.2010.1. PMID20237496. S2CID11183658.
Levine AJ, Brivanlou AH (2006). "GDF3, a BMP inhibitor, regulates cell fate in stem cells and early embryos". Development. 133 (2): 209–16. doi:10.1242/dev.02192. PMID16339188. S2CID35923560.
Ye M, Berry-Wynne KM, Asai-Coakwell M, et al. (2010). "Mutation of the bone morphogenetic protein GDF3 causes ocular and skeletal anomalies". Hum. Mol. Genet. 19 (2): 287–98. doi:10.1093/hmg/ddp496. PMID19864492.