CTD Nuclear Envelope Phosphatase 1 (CTDNEP1)

Dullard negatively regulated BMP signaling by promoting ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of BMP receptors in Xenopus. Dullard phosphatase activity was essential for degradation of BMP receptors and neural induction in Xenopus.

Dullard was involved in neural development in Xenopus embryos. Overexpression of Dullard led to apoptosis in early Xenopus development.The deduced 261-amino acid human protein shares 92% identity with Xenopus Dullard, and both have the conserved C-terminal domain of NLIIF (CTDSP1). In Xenopus embryos, Dullard mRNA localized to the animal hemisphere before the gastrula stage. It was restricted to the neural region as gastrulation proceeded and subsequently localized to the neural tissues, branchial arches, and pronephroi at the tail-bud stages.