DNA encoding a tissue differentiation affecting factor

摘要

A functional polypeptide designated "chordin" is described that is capable of inducing dorsal (and neural tissue) development in vertebrates, and which appears to be a secreted protein. There are substantial regions of conservation with Xenopus chordin with mouse chordin, and the human gene should also be similar in those regions. A full length Xenopus cDNA for chordin is illustrated by FIGS. 1A-1F, and contains a reading frame encoding a 941 residue, 105 kDa precursor protein.