Growth Differentiation Factor 6 (GDF-6), also known as bone morphogenetic protein 13 (BMP-13) or cartilage-derived morphogenetic protein 2 (CDMP-2), is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family which belongs to the TGF-beta superfamily. GDF-6 can regulate myogenesis, chondrogenesis, bone morphogenesis, and neuron differentiation and survival. The cellular response to GDF-6 is mediated by the formation of hetero-oligomeric complexes of type I (BMPR-IB) and type II (BMPR-II or Activin R-II) sereine/threonine kinase receptors followed by the activation of Smad proteins (Smad 1, 5, and 8).
