Description
Growth and Differentiation Factors (GDF) are members of the BMP family of TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site that is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The members of this family are regulators of cell growth and differentiation in both embryonic and adult tissues. Studies in rodents suggest that this protein is involved in the establishment of left-right asymmetry in early embryogenesis and in neural development in later embryogenesis.
GDF-3 is highly homologous to GDF-9. Unlike most TGF-β family members, GDF-3 and GDF-9 are not disulfide-linked dimers. GDF-3 is expressed in adult bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and adipose tissue. The expression of GDF-3 is upregulated in high-fat-fed wild-type FABP4/aP2 null mice and was associated with obesity, but not with the related hyperglycemia/hyperinsulinemia that characterizes Type 2 diabetes.

Full Name
Growth and Differentiation Factor 3

Source
E. coli

Species
Human

Accession #
Q9NR23

Molecule Weight
The mature recombinant human GDF-3 is a 12.9 kDa protein (251-364aa).

Purity
> 95 % as determined by SDS-PAGE

Endotoxin
< 0.1 EU per μg of the protein as determined by the LAL method

Activity
Determined by its ability to inhibit induced alkaline phosphatase production by ATDC-5 chondrogenic cells. The ED50 for this effect is 100-150 ng/ml.
 
Storage
-80     Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Storage Buffer
PBS