GDF-9 Proteins and Enzymes

Growth Differentiation Factor-9 (GDF-9) is an oocyte-secreted paracrine factor in the TGF-beta superfamily. It forms both non-covalent homodimers and heterodimers with BMP-15, which is coordinately expressed with GDF-9 in the oocyte. GDF-9 signals through TGF-beta RI/ALK-5 and BMPR-II, while the GDF-9:BMP-15 heterodimer is believed to signal through BMPR-II, ALK-4, -5, -7 plus BMPR-IB/ALK-6. SMAD2 and SMAD3 are phosphorylated following activation of receptor complexes by GDF-9. GDF-9 functions ...