Recombinant Mouse GDF-3 Protein

This product is produced by and ships from R&D Systems, Inc., a Bio-Techne brand.

GDF-3 (previously called Vgr-2) is a TGF-beta superfamily member belonging to the growth/differentiation factor family (1, 2). GDF-3 is expressed in undifferentiated embryonic stem (ES) cells, white adipose tissue and the brain (2-4). The 366 amino acid (aa) mouse GDF-3 contains a 22 aa signal sequence, a 230 aa propeptide and a 114 aa mature protein that contains one potential N-glycosylation site. The mature region contains a cysteine-knot structure that is conserved throughout family members. However, it lacks the fourth cysteine which is responsible for the formation of an inter-molecular disulfide bond, so GDF-3 may exist as a non-covalent homodimer (2, 5). Mature mouse GDF-3 shares 90% and 83% aa sequence identity with rat and human GDF-3, respectively. Most of GDF-3 is present as the uncleaved prepro form (6). The uncleaved and the mature forms both appear to have activity, but that activity may differ (5-8). All forms can oppose BMPs. In ES cells, inhibition of BMP2 signaling by GDF-3 maintains pluripotency (5, 7). GDF3 also influences early cell fate decisions; for example, deletion of mouse GDF-3 produces defects in the anterior visceral endoderm of the pre-gastrulation embryo (6-8). GDF-3 cooperates with GDF-1 in embryogenesis, and the mature protein has nodal-like activity (8, 9). Although GDF family members signal through BMP receptors (ALK1, 2, 3 and 6), which activate Smads 1, 5 and 8, GDF-3 signaling through ALK4 and ALK7, which activate Smads 2 and 3, has also been reported (9, 10). In adipocytes, GDF-3 is induced by a high fat diet, promoting adipogenesis and obesity (3, 10, 11).

Array 9009-GD

• GDF-3 Antibodies
• GDF-3 ELISA Kits
• GDF-3 Lysate
• GDF-3 Protein
• GDF-3 Proteins and Enzymes