Protein
Growth/differentiation factor 6-A
Function
Growth factor that controls proliferation and cellular differentiation in the retina. Plays a key role in regulating apoptosis during retinal development. Establishes dorsal-ventral positional information in the retina and controls the formation of the retinotectal map. Functions maternally in dorsal/ventral patterning to induce the expression of the zygotic bmp2b and bmp4 genes and ventralize embryos. Zygotic expression does not appear to regulate axis specification, but instead functions to establish the integrity of the axial vessels during embryonic development. May be involved in maintaining the identity of cells of the dorsal-most neural tube and of at least a subset of neural crest cells.
Similarity
Belongs to the TGF-beta family.
Sequence
MDALRAVAFYALFVFLWSLPCCQSAALISQKRSKGARSAFDGQRSHKFLKEILASSPGASRRDDFKDPVVPHDYMISIYRTYSAAEKLGLNASFFRSSKSANTITSFVDKGKDDLTLSPLRRQTYLFDVSTLSDKEELVGAELRIFRKSPGDVQPSPSGVYNLHLLSCRSERPLASRSIDLQDSRKAEWEVLDVWGIFKHRHQENQLCLQLKVTYGKSDTEIDLKQLGFHRHSRTQQERAILVVYTRSKKRENLFNEMKEKIKSRGDDDEEESALQFKARRRRRTALNNRHGKRHGKKSKSRCSKKALHVNFKELGWDDWIIAPLDYEAYHCEGVCDFPLRSHLEPTNHAIIQTLMNSMDPNSTPPSCCVPTKLSPISILYIDSGNNVVYKQYEDMVVEQCGCR