Human/Mouse GDF-3 Antibody

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, adipose tissue and the brain (2-4). In ES cells, it maintains pluripotency and influences early cell fate decisions (5, 6). For example, frog embryos injected with GDF-3 develop a secondary dorsal axis and deletion of mouse GDF-3 can produce defects in the anterior visceral endoderm of the pre‑gastrulation embryo (5, 6). In adipocytes, GDF-3 is induced by a high fat diet and promotes adipogenesis (3). GDF-3 has been reported to oppose BMP’s functions and to have a nodal-like activity in early development (1). 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. Most of GDF-3 is present as the prepro form, while the mature GDF-3 is presumably the secreted, active form (1). The mature protein contains the cysteine-knot structure that is conserved throughout family members. Since it lacks the fourth cysteine, which is responsible for the formation of inter-molecular disulfide bond, GDF-3 may exist as a non-covalent homodimer. Mature mouse GDF-3 shares 90%, 83%, and 83% aa identity with rat, human and canine GDF-3, respectively. Among family members, mature GDF-3 is most similar to mouse BMP-6 (45% aa identity) and Xenopus VG‑1 (52% aa identity).