This gene encodes a member of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) family and the TGF-beta superfamily. This group of proteins is characterized by a polybasic proteolytic processing site that is cleaved to produce a mature protein containing seven conserved cysteine residues. The orthologous human protein has been shown to regulate C18-ceramide (N-stearoyl-sphinganine) synthesis. The protein is expressed from a bicistronic mRNA which also encodes growth differentiation factor 1. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2009]

