Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF-11), also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP-11), belongs to the GDF family and BMP family, which are part of the TGF-beta superfamily. As many other family members, GDF-11 is a homodimer released as inactive precursor and cleaved by extracellular proteases to an active mature form. GDF-11 is involved in the embryonic development of several types of tissues, including neural development of olphactory and retinal tissues, and mesodermal formation, such as the control of skeletal muscle stem cell function and cardiomyocyte proliferation. GDF-11 shares sequence homology and functionality with myostatin, another GDF protein involved in the control of neural and muscular growth. Human GDF-11 shares 100% sequence homology with rodent GDF-11, and fully cross-reacts with mouse and rat cells.