Description
Brorin, also known as brain-specific chordin-like protein, von Willebrand factor C domain-containing protein 2 and VWC2, is a secreted protein that contains two VWFC domains. VWC2 / Brorin is a BMP antagonist that may play a role in neural development. It promotes cell adhesion. VWC2 / Brorin is a unique member of the chordin family. It inhibited the activity of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) and BMP6 in mouse preosteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Mouse Brorin was predominantly expressed in neural tissues in embryos and also predominantly expressed in the adult brain. In the brain, the expression was detected in neurons, but not glial cells. The neural tissue-specific expression profile of Brorin is quite distinct from that of any other member of the Chordin family. VWC2 / Brorin protein promoted neurogenesis, but not astrogenesis, in mouse neural precursor cells. VWC2 / Brorin is a novel secreted BMP antagonist that potentially plays roles in neural development and functions