Bone morphogenetic protein 4

he Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are members of the TGF-beta superfamily of cytokines that are involved in development, differentiation, and disease.  T he transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) super-family consists of a large number of growth and differentiation factors, such as TGF-betas, activins, inhibins, growth and differentiation factors (GDFs), and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs).  These TGF beta ligands act through specific serine/threonine type I and Type II receptor kinases (1).  These type I and II receptor kinases subsequently activate Smad proteins, which then propagate the signals into the nucleus to regulate target gene expression.   Several BMP isotypes have been identified  (BMP1 through BMP16) have been recovered through molecular cloning.  Recombinant protein products from several of these clones (BMP2-BMP16) are members of the TGF-beta super-family of regulatory ligands.  There exist high degree of amino acid sequence homology between BMP5, BMP6, and BMP7, that constitute a subfamily within the BMPs.  The signaling systems of BMP are highly conserved from flies to mammals and have been shown to be important in the development of multiple organs.

The formation of skeleton requires a highly regulated inductive signals with antagonist negative feed back system.  Inappropriate or excessive expression of BMPs (bone morphogenetic proteins) or their antagonists (Noggin, ectodin) results in genetic disorders affecting the skeleton, such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.  BMP signaling mediated through binding to its receptors is a critical step in the induction of abnormal ossification.  BMP-4 expression has been shown in the developmental bone formation in the alveolar bone of rat embryo by immunohistochemistry (2).  The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) are implicated in several inductive differentiation processes in vertebrate ontogeny and patterning of nervous system.  BMP4 and its antagonist Noggin play important role in the CNS development, the expression of BMP4 in rat hippocampus increase gradually and reached its highest levels during weaning and then decline slightly there after (3).  BMP4 is also required in normal development of mouse inner ear (3). 

The BMP4-selective antibodies were generated against peptides form unique regions of the BMP4 protein.  FabGennix Inc. has also generated epitope specific rabbit anti-BMP2 and BMP8 polyclonal antibodies utilizing linear and cyclic peptide sequences.  These antibodies have been fully characterized for cross reactivity with other members of the bone morphogenetic proteins and other proteins.  Limited quantities of the antigenic blocking peptide for BMP2 antibodies is also available.

For research use only, not for diagnostic or therapeutic use.