Cerberus also known as CER1 is a protein

Protein

Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...

 that in humans is encoded by the CER1 gene

Gene

A gene is a molecular unit of heredity of a living organism. It is a name given to some stretches of DNA and RNA that code for a type of protein or for an RNA chain that has a function in the organism. Living beings depend on genes, as they specify all proteins and functional RNA chains...

.

Function

Cerberus is an inhibitor in the TGF beta signaling pathway

TGF beta signaling pathway

The Transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway is involved in many cellular processes in both the adult organism and the developing embryo including cell growth, cell differentiation, apoptosis, cellular homeostasis and other cellular functions. In spite of the wide range of cellular...

 secreted during the gastrulation phase of the embryogenesis.

This gene encodes a cytokine member of the cystine knot

Cystine knot

A cystine knot is a protein structural motif where two disulfide bridges are formed. The sections of polypeptide that occur between them then form a loop through which a third disulfide bond passes, forming a rotaxane substructure...

 superfamily, characterized by nine conserved cysteines and a cysteine knot region. The cerberus-related cytokines, together with Dan and DRM / Gremlin

Gremlin

A gremlin is an imaginary creature commonly depicted as mischievous and mechanically oriented, with a specific interest in aircraft. Gremlins' mischievous natures are similar to those of English folkloric imps, while their inclination to damage or dismantle machinery is more...

, represent a group of bone morphogenetic protein

Bone morphogenetic protein

Bone morphogenetic proteins are a group of growth factors also known as cytokines and as metabologens . Originally discovered by their ability to induce the formation of bone and cartilage, BMPs are now considered to constitute a group of pivotal morphogenetic signals, orchestrating tissue...

(BMP) antagonists that can bind directly to BMPs and inhibit their activity.