Description
Product Characteristics:
BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) belong to the TGF beta superfamily of structurally related signaling proteins. Members of this superfamily are widely represented throughout the animal kingdom and have been implicated in a variety of developmental processes. Proteins of the TGF beta superfamily are disulfide-linked dimers composed of two 12-15 kDa polypeptide chains. As implied by their name, BMPs initiate, promote and regulate bone development, growth, remodeling and repair. Smad1 translocation to the nucleus is observed after the addition of BMP4 (also designated BMP2B), suggesting that BMP4 may play a role in activation of the Smad pathway. BMP is secreted into the extracellular matrix.
Synonyms: BMP 4, BMP2B, BMP2B1, Bone morphogenetic protein 4, DVR4, ZYME, BMP4_HUMAN, BMP-4, Bone morphogenetic protein 2B, BMP-2B.
Target Information: The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the bone morphogenetic protein family which is part of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily. The superfamily includes large families of growth and differentiation factors. Bone morphogenetic proteins were originally identified by an ability of demineralized bone extract to induce endochondral osteogenesis in vivo in an extraskeletal site. This particular family member plays an important role in the onset of endochondral bone formation in humans, and a reduction in expression has been associated with a variety of bone diseases, including the heritable disorder Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. Alternative splicing in the 5' untranslated region of this gene has been described and three variants are described, all encoding an identical protein. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]