Bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP-1), which is a tolloid member of the astacin-like family of zinc metalloproteinases, is a highly effective procollagen C-proteinase (PCP) and chordinase. On the other hand, mammalian tolloid like-2 (mTLL-2) does not cleave chordin or procollagen; procollagen is cleaved by mTLL-2 in the presence of high levels of procollagen C-proteinase enhancer-1 (PCPE-1), for...

PURPOSE To investigate transcription of members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily and corresponding receptors in human corneal epithelium and stroma. METHODS Transcription of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP)-2, BMP-3, BMP-4, BMP-5, and BMP-7; growth- differentiation factor (GDF)-5), and BMP receptors (BMPR) types I (BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB) and II (BMPR-II) was investigated b...

We study a combinatorial problem arising from microarrays synthesis. The synthesis is done by a light-directed chemical process. The objective is to minimize unintended illumination that may contaminate the quality of experiments. Unintended illumination is measured by a notion called border length and the problem is called Border Minimization Problem (BMP). The objective of the BMP is to place...

BACKGROUND Airway remodelling is thought to be under the control of a complex group of molecules belonging to the transforming growth factor (TGF)-superfamily. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) belong to this family and have been shown to regulate fibrosis in kidney and liver diseases. However, the role of BMPs in lung remodelling remains unclear. BMPs may regulate tissue remodelling in as...

The growth and development of follicles within the ovary are highly dependent on autocrine and paracrine signaling involving growth factors from granulosa cells, theca cells, stromal interstitial cells, and the oocytes. The growth factor bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4) and its receptor (BMPR-IB) have been detected in ovaries, and a mutation in BMPR-IB has been associated with abnormal ovul...

BACKGROUND Cathepsin H is a cysteine protease considered to play a major role in tumor progression, however, its precise function in tumorigenesis is unclear. Cathepsin H was recently proposed to be involved in processing of bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) in mice. In order to clarify whether cathepsin H also regulates BMP-4 in humans, its impact on BMP-4 expression, processing and degrada...

In Drosophila, the secreted BMP-binding protein Short gastrulation (Sog) inhibits signaling by sequestering BMPs from receptors, but enhances signaling by transporting BMPs through tissues. We show that Crossveinless 2 (Cv-2) is also a secreted BMP-binding protein that enhances or inhibits BMP signaling. Unlike Sog, however, Cv-2 does not promote signaling by transporting BMPs. Rather, Cv-2 bin...

The endodermal pouches are a series of reiterated structures that segment the pharyngeal arches and help pattern the vertebrate face. Multiple pathways regulate the complex process of endodermal development, including the Bone morphogenetic protein (Bmp) pathway. However, the role of Bmp signaling in pouch morphogenesis is poorly understood. Using genetic and chemical inhibitor approaches, we s...

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling exerts paradoxical roles in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs); it sustains self-renewal of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs), while it induces differentiation in other PSCs, including human ESCs. Here, we revisit the roles of BMP-4 using mouse ESCs (mESCs) in naive and primed states. SMAD1 and SMAD5, which transduce BMP signals, recognize enhancer regions ...

The highly conserved bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway regulates many developmental and homeostatic processes. While the core components of the BMP pathway have been well studied, much research is needed for understanding the mechanisms involved in the precise spatiotemporal control of BMP signaling in vivo. Here, we provide evidence that two paralogous and evolutionarily conse...