Human GDF-3 Alexa Fluor® 488-conjugated Antibody

Applications

Please Note: Optimal dilutions should be determined by each laboratory for each application. General Protocols are available in the Technical Information section on our website.

Preparation and Storage

Background: GDF-3

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 364 amino acid (aa) human GDF-3 contains a 21 aa signal sequence, a 229 aa propeptide and a 114 aa mature region 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 human GDF-3 shares 83%, 83%, 91%, 92% and 93% aa identity with mouse, rat, bovine, canine and equine 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 human ES cells, inhibition of BMP-2 signaling by GDF-3 maintains pluripotency (5, 7). GDF-3 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 (ALK-1, -2, -3 and -6), which activate Smads 1, 5 and 8, GDF-3 signaling through ALK-4 and ALK-7, 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).

Product Datasheets

Related Research Areas

• BMP Family
• Early Endodermal Lineage Markers
• Early Mesodermal Lineage Markers
• Embryonic and Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Markers
• Growth/Differentiation Factors (GDFs)
• Primitive Endoderm Markers
• Search Cytokine and Growth Factor Products
• TGF-beta Superfamily