BMP-4/BMP-7 Heterodimer: Proteins and Enzymes

Bone Morphogenetic Proteins 4 and 7 (BMP-4 and BMP-7) signal through heterodimeric complexes composed of type I and type II BMP receptors. BMP-4 and BMP-7 are widely expressed from early embryogenesis to adult and influence a variety of morphogenic processes. BMP propeptides are removed intracellularly by proteolysis, enabling mature BMPs to form active disulfide-linked homodimers or heterodimers.

BMP-4/BMP-7 heterodimers exhibit increased osteogenic potency compared to either homodimer. Furthermore, BMP-4/BMP-7 heterodimers induce ventral mesoderm and blood formation in mid-blastula Xenopus animal cap assays, whereas the homodimers do not. BMP-4/BMP-7 as well as either homodimer can modulate mesoderm induction by Activin and prevent subsequent dorsalization of the mesoderm.