This invention provides an isolated vertebrate nucleic acid molecule which encodes
dorsalin-1. This invention also provides a nucleic acid probe capable of specifically
hybridizing with a sequence included within the sequence of a nucleic acid molecule
encoding a dorsalin-1. The invention also provides a vector and host vector system
for the production of a polypeptide having the biological activity of dorsalin-1
which comprises the above-described vector in a suitable host. This invention also
provides a purified vertebrate dorsalin-1. This invention provides a method for
stimulating neural crest cell differentiation, a method for regenerating nerve
cells, a method for promoting bone growth, a method for promoting wound healing
and a method for treating neural tumor using purified dorsalin-1. This invention
further provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising purified dorsalin-1 and
a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Finally, this invention provides an antibody
capable of binding to dorsalin-1.
