Description
GDF1 is a 12-15 kDasecreted protein in the TGFβ superfamily. It is the functional equivalent offrog, zebrafish, and chick Vg1. Human GDF1 is synthesized as a preproproteinthat contains a 29 amino acid (aa) signal peptide, a 224 aa propeptide, and a119 aa mature peptide which is released following proteolysis at a dibasic cleavagesite. Mature human GDF1 shares 81% aa sequence identity with mouse and ratGDF1. GDF1 is expressed in the developing and adult nervous system,particularly in neurons of the cerebral cortex and hippocampus