Growth factor involved in early embryonic development and adipose-tissue homeostasis. During embryogenesis controls formation of anterior visceral endoderm and mesoderm and the establishment of anterior-posterior identity through a receptor complex comprising the receptor ACVR1B and the coreceptor CRIPTO (By similarity). Regulates adipose-tissue homeostasis and energy balance under nutrient overload in part by signaling through the receptor complex based on ACVR1C and CRIPTO/Cripto (PubMed:21805089). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q07104, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21805089}. This is the function of ENSG00000184344 (GDF3, growth differentiation factor 3).