Zebrafish Ndr2 Antibody / Cyclops / Nodal-related 2 precursor

Zebrafish Ndr2 is closely related in function to the human NODAL protein. While it is not a direct one to one ortholog due to gene duplication events in zebrafish, Ndr2 and human NODAL share conserved domains and activate similar signaling cascades through type one and type two serine threonine kinase receptors and intracellular SMAD transcription factors. Both proteins are tightly regulated by extracellular antagonists such as Lefty and intracellular feedback loops. In zebrafish embryos, Ndr2 is expressed during gastrulation and is critical for the induction of the organizer region and patterning of the mesendoderm. Disruption of Ndr2 results in severe developmental defects, including failure to form the embryonic axis and internal organs. Because of its functional conservation with human NODAL and its central role in vertebrate development, zebrafish Ndr2 is widely used as a model to study signaling pathways involved in embryogenesis, tissue specification, and congenital malformations.