Nodal homolog
Mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nodal homolog is a secretory protein that in humans is encoded by the NODAL gene[5][6] which is located on chromosome 10q22.1.[7] It belongs to the transforming growth factor beta superfamily (TGF-β superfamily). Like many other members of this superfamily it is involved in cell differentiation in early embryogenesis, playing a key role in signal transfer from the primitive node, in the anterior primitive streak, to lateral plate mesoderm (LPM).[8][9]
Nodal signaling is important very early in development for mesoderm and endoderm formation and subsequent organization of left-right axial structures.[10][11][12] In addition, Nodal seems to have important functions in neural patterning, stem cell maintenance[7][12] and many other developmental processes, including left/right handedness.[11][13]