Researchers at UCLA had cloned Xenopus chordin and had produced the secreted protein successfully in an expression system. Chordin binds BMP-4 and BMP-7 with high specificity, preventing their binding to cognate receptors. The regenerative function of its ortholog in xenopus warrants chordin's use in medical applications that require regeneration, differentiation or repair of tissues. These may include: a) wound repair; b) neuronal regeneration or transplantation, c) supplementation of muscle differentiation, d) bone tissue repair and any other applications in which embryonic cellular processes are to be induced. A recent study with mouse embryonic stem cells has shown that ES cells treated with Chordin form neurons and nestin-positive neuroepithelial progenitors (Gratsch and O'Shea, 2002).

Reference: UCLA Case No. 1994-541

US Patent Number: 5,986,056 | 5,846,770