GDF2

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

growth differentiation factor 2
Identifiers
Symbol	GDF2 BMP-9, BMP9
HUGO	4217
Entrez	2658
OMIM	605120
RefSeq	NM_016204
UniProt	Q9UK05
PDB	1ZKZ
Other data
Locus	Chr. 11 q11.22

Growth differentiation factor 2 (GDF2) is a protein also known as bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-9 that belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily. It has a role in inducing and maintaining the ability of embryonic basal forebrain cholinergic neurons (BFCN) to respond to a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine; BFCN are important for the processes of learning, memory and attention.^[1] GDF2 is also important for the maturation of BFCN.^[1] Another role of GDF2 has been recently suggested. GDF2 is a potent inducer of hepcidin (a cationic peptide that has a antimicrobial properties) in liver cells (hepatocytes) and can regulate iron metabolism.^[2] The physiological receptor of GDF2 is thought to be activin receptor-like kinase 1, ALK1 (also called ACVRL1), an endothelial-specific type I receptor of the TGF-beta receptor family.^[3]

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b} Lopez-Coviella I, Follettie M, Mellott T, Kovacheva V, Slack B, Diesl V, Berse B, Thies R, Blusztajn J (2005). "Bone morphogenetic protein 9 induces the transcriptome of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 102 (19): 6984-9. PMID 15870197. 
2. ^ Truksa J, Peng H, Lee P, Beutler E (2006). "Bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4, and 9 stimulate murine hepcidin 1 expression independently of Hfe, transferrin receptor 2 (Tfr2), and IL-6". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103 (27): 10289-93. PMID 16801541. 
3. ^ David L, Mallet C, Mazerbourg S, Feige J, Bailly S (2007). "Identification of BMP9 and BMP10 as functional activators of the orphan activin receptor-like kinase 1, ALK1 (also called ACVRL1) in endothelial cells". Blood 109 (5): 1953-61. PMID 17068149.