BMPS

BMPs: translation

(= bone morphogenetic proteins)

Multifunctional cytokines, members of the TGF b superfamily. Activity of BMPs are regulated by BMP-binding proteins noggin and chordin. Receptors are serine-threonine kinase receptors (TypesI and II) that link with smads. Drosophila decapentaplegic (Dpp) is a homologue of mammalian BMPs. BMP2 is involved in regulating bone formation, BMP4 acts during development as a regulator of mesodermal induction and is over-expressed in fibrodysplasia ossificans. Follistatin inhibits BMP function in early Xenopus embryos.