Chordin
Encyclopedia
Chordin is a polypeptide that dorsalizes
the developing embryo
by binding ventralizing TGFβ proteins such as bone morphogenetic protein
s. It may also play a role in organogenesis
. There are five named isoforms of this protein that are produced by alternative splicing
.
In humans, the chordin peptide is encoded by the CHRD gene
.
Dorsum (biology)
In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...
the developing embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
by binding ventralizing TGFβ proteins such as bone morphogenetic protein
Bone morphogenetic protein
Bone morphogenetic proteins are a group of growth factors also known as cytokines and as metabologens . Originally discovered by their ability to induce the formation of bone and cartilage, BMPs are now considered to constitute a group of pivotal morphogenetic signals, orchestrating tissue...
s. It may also play a role in organogenesis
Organogenesis
In animal development, organogenesis is the process by which the ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm develop into the internal organs of the organism. Internal organs initiate development in humans within the 3rd to 8th weeks in utero...
. There are five named isoforms of this protein that are produced by alternative splicing
Alternative splicing
Alternative splicing is a process by which the exons of the RNA produced by transcription of a gene are reconnected in multiple ways during RNA splicing...
.
In humans, the chordin peptide is encoded by the CHRD gene
Gene
A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...
.