Dorsalizing factor. Key developmental protein that dorsalizes early vertebrate embryonic tissues by binding to ventralizing TGF-beta family bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and sequestering them in latent complexes (By similarity). Interacts with TWSG1 and/or BMP4. Experimental confirmation may be lacking for some isoforms. Expressed at the highest level in liver. Cleaved by tolloid proteases; cleavage participates in dorsoventral patterning during early development. May be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. May be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. May be produced at very low levels due to a premature stop codon in the mRNA, leading to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Belongs to the chordin family.