GDF2

protein
Name = growth differentiation factor 2
caption =


width =
HGNCid = 4217
Symbol = GDF2
AltSymbols = BMP-9, BMP9
EntrezGene = 2658
OMIM = 605120
RefSeq = NM_016204
UniProt = Q9UK05
PDB = 1ZKZ
ECnumber =
Chromosome = 11
Arm = q
Band = 11.22
LocusSupplementaryData =

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.cite journal |author=Lopez-Coviella I, Follettie M, Mellott T, Kovacheva V, Slack B, Diesl V, Berse B, Thies R, Blusztajn J |title=Bone morphogenetic protein 9 induces the transcriptome of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons |journal=Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |volume=102 |issue=19 |pages=6984–9 |year=2005 |pmid=15870197 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0502097102] GDF2 is also important for the maturation of BFCN. 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. [cite journal |author=Truksa J, Peng H, Lee P, Beutler E |title=Bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4, and 9 stimulate murine hepcidin 1 expression independently of Hfe, transferrin receptor 2 (Tfr2), and IL-6 |journal=Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |volume=103 |issue=27 |pages=10289–93 |year=2006 |pmid=16801541 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0603124103] 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. [cite journal |author=David L, Mallet C, Mazerbourg S, Feige J, Bailly S |title=Identification of BMP9 and BMP10 as functional activators of the orphan activin receptor-like kinase 1, ALK1 (also called ACVRL1) in endothelial cells |journal=Blood |volume=109 |issue=5 |pages=1953–61 |year=2007 |pmid=17068149 |doi=10.1182/blood-2006-07-034124]

GDF2 is one of the most potent BMPs to induce orthotopic bone formation "in vivo". BMP3, a blocker of most BMPs seems not to affect GDF2. [cite journal |author=Q Kang, MH Sun, H Cheng, Y Peng, AG Montag, AT Deyrup, W Jiang, HH Luu, J Luo, JP Szatkowski, P Vanichakarn, JY Park, Y Li, RC Haydon and T-C He |title=Characterization of the distinct orthotopic bone-forming activity of 14 BMPs using recombinant adenovirus-mediated gene delivery |journal=Gene Therapy |volume=11 |issue=17 |pages=1312–20 |year=2004 |pmid=15269709 |doi=10.1038/sj.gt.3302298]

References