Biology:GDF3

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Short description: Protein-coding gene in humans


A representation of the 3D structure of the protein myoglobin showing turquoise α-helices.
Generic protein structure example


Growth differentiation factor-3 (GDF3), also known as Vg-related gene 2 (Vgr-2) is protein that in humans is encoded by the GDF3 gene.[1] 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.[1]

Tissue distribution

Expression of GDF3 occurs in ossifying bone during embryonic development and in the brain, thymus, spleen, bone marrow and adipose tissue of adults.[2][3]

Function

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.[4] It has been shown to negatively and positively control differentiation of embryonic stem cells in mice and humans.[5] This molecule plays a role in mesoderm and definitive endoderm formation during the pre-gastrulation stages of development.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Human growth-differentiation factor 3 (hGDF3): developmental regulation in human teratocarcinoma cell lines and expression in primary testicular germ cell tumours". Oncogene 16 (1): 95–103. January 1998. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1201515. PMID 9467948. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The Vg1-related protein Gdf3 acts in a Nodal signaling pathway in the pre-gastrulation mouse embryo". Development 133 (2): 319–29. January 2006. doi:10.1242/dev.02210. PMID 16368929. 
  3. "Expression pattern of growth/differentiation factor 3 in human and murine cerebral cortex, hippocampus as well as cerebellum". Neurosci. Lett. 389 (2): 83–7. December 2005. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2005.06.071. PMID 16126341. 
  4. "GDF3 at the crossroads of TGF-beta signaling". Cell Cycle 5 (10): 1069–73. 2006. doi:10.4161/cc.5.10.2771. PMID 16721050. 
  5. "GDF3, a BMP inhibitor, regulates cell fate in stem cells and early embryos". Development 133 (2): 209–16. 2006. doi:10.1242/dev.02192. PMID 16339188. 

Further reading