Secreted signal that acts globally to regulate anterior/posterior axial patterning during development. May play critical roles in patterning both mesodermal and neural tissues (By similarity). It is required for proper vertebral patterning and orofacial development . Signals through activin receptors type-2, ACVR2A and ACVR2B, and activin receptors type-1, ACVR1B, ACVR1C and TGFBR1 leading to the phosphorylation of SMAD2 and SMAD3 .
Subcellular locations: Secreted
In the embryo, strong expression is seen in the palatal epithelia, including the medial edge epithelial and midline epithelial seam of the palatal shelves. Less pronounced expression is also seen throughout the palatal shelf and tongue mesenchyme.