Mouse GDF-7/BMP-12 Antibody

Growth Differentiation Factor 7 (GDF-7), also known as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) 12 or cartilage derived morphogenetic protein 3 (CDMP-3), is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family which belongs to the transforming growth factor  beta (TGF-beta) superfamily. Mature GDF-7 contains 146 aa residues with the characteristic seven conserved cysteine residues. The bioactive GDF-7 is a homodimer with an apparent molecular weight of approximately 28 kDa. Mature GDF-5, GDF-6 and GDF-7, which share 80 - 86% identity with each other, define a new subgroup within the BMP family. Like other TGF-beta superfamily proteins, GDF-7 is highly conserved across species. At the amino acid sequence level, mature human and mouse GDF-7 are 98% identical. It has been reported that GDF-7 has multiple functions including regulation of chondrogenesis, bone morphogenesis, and neuron differentiation. GDF-7 response is mediated by the formation of hetero-oligomeric complexes of type I (BMPR-IB) and type II (BMPR-II or Activin R-II) sereine/threonine kinase receptors, and the activiation of Smad proteins.