Description
Grem1 wasidentified in a Xenopus expression-cloning screen as a dorsalizing factorthat can induce a secondary axis. A rat homolog, called Grem1, was identifiedas a cDNA that was downregulated in v-mos transfected cells. Grem1 belongs tothe DAN family of secreted glycoproteins that are BMP antagonists. Othermembers of the family include: cerberus, Dante, PRDC, caronte and DAN. DAN familymembers share a cysteine-rich domain that is structurally related to thecysteine-knot motif found in TGF-β superfamily ligands. In vitro, Grem1 bindsBMP-4 and BMP-2 indicating that it might interfere with BMP signaling